When is it more than a stomachache?

Stomachaches are a common complaint among kids and teens. Stomach pain can be caused by many reasons.

Dr. Lana Hattar, a Wichita pediatric gastroenterologist, says most of the time, the cause of your child’s stomach pain isn’t serious, and it will improve on its own. But some types of pain point to the possibility of a more serious condition that requires medical treatment.

Dr. Hattar says the source of stomach pain is commonly caused by:

Infections

Infections are one of the most common causes of acute abdominal pain. “When a bacteria or virus gets into the digestive system, the body reacts by trying to rid itself of the infection, often through vomiting or diarrhea,” says Dr. Hattar. Bacterial Infections include pneumonia or strep throat. Viruses like “stomach flu," or gastroenteritis can cause an upset stomach too. Another relatively common bacterial infection is caused by H.Pylori. This will not resolve except with the appropriate antibiotics’ regimen.

Constipation

“Constipation is the most common cause of chronic abdominal pain,” Dr. Hattar says. All kinds of things can cause constipation in kids: Potty training stress, a low-fiber diet, lack of fluids or exercise, irritable bowel syndrome, poor bowel habits, diabetes, or medications.

Irritation and inflammation

When one of the body's internal organs is irritated or swollen, that can bring on abdominal pain. “Pain from problems like appendicitis, ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, and inflammatory bowel disease is the body's way of telling us to get medical help,” says Dr. Hattar.

Food reactions

Food reactions can be more than eating too much or basic indigestion. “When people can't digest certain foods, they may have a food intolerance,” Dr. Hattar says. Lactose intolerance, for example, causes belly pain when someone consumes dairy (milk products). If you notice your child complaining of pain or other symptoms like gas, bloating, or diarrhea after eating certain foods, it may be time to see a doctor.

When to call a doctor

“I get this question a lot, ‘when should I call the doctor?’” says Dr. Hattar. “I tell parents to trust their instincts. You know your child best, so no matter what the digestive problem is, if it concerns you, it may be time to see a pediatric GI doctor.”

Here are five of the most common reasons on when to pick up the phone:

1. Vomiting: If your child has vomited more than once without a clear cause, there is blood or bile in the vomit, or if your child is under 6 and can’t keep liquids down. For older kids, if they have vomited more than twice in a 24-hour period, or the vomit has blood or bile.
2. Abdominal Pain: If your child's abdominal pain is severe or going on for more than two weeks.
3. Constipation and Diarrhea: If you see blood in your child's stool it’s time to see a doctor. Also, if your child is not having at least one bowel movement every other day, if movements are painful, if there is blood in the stool, or more than normal pushing is needed during a bowel movement.
4. GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux): There are signs that GERD may be serious and those include weight loss, poor appetite, vomiting, problems swallowing and a chronic cough.
5. Weight loss or poor weight gain: This is always a red flag. Picky, limited eating in children can be a sign of a digestive problem or other gastrointestinal infections.

“Kids can't always explain what they're feeling, so no matter what the symptoms are, whether they're vague or mild, sudden or chronic, if you're worried about your child's digestive health, trust your instincts and don’t wait,” Dr. Hattar says.

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