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A child has a stomach ache: possible diseases and what medications can be given. What to do if a child has a severe stomach ache, what medications can be given: a review of medications and home remedies What can be given to a child if it hurts

What to give a child when vomiting? This is a question that concerns all parents. Vomiting refers to the sudden emptying of the stomach through the mouth. This phenomenon occurs very often in young children. The reasons for its appearance are very diverse. This may be a consequence of the use of any foods, medications, infections or pathologies of the central nervous system. In most cases, gagging is preceded by nausea, profuse salivation and deep breathing. Vomiting is a very dangerous condition, since if it lasts for a long time, there is a high risk of dehydration of the child’s body, which will entail a number of complications. In particularly severe cases, dehydration can be fatal.

1 How to alleviate the baby’s condition before the doctors arrive?

First aid for vomiting involves several important rules:

  1. It is forbidden to leave a child alone if he has frequent vomiting.
  2. When vomiting, there is a risk of vomit entering the respiratory tract. This may cause asphyxia. In order not to endanger the baby’s life, you need to turn him on his side and put him in the bed semi-vertically.
  3. After each attack of vomiting, experts advise wiping the baby’s mouth well with clean water. These manipulations will help avoid irritation on the skin. It is very convenient to rinse your mouth with a syringe without a needle.
  4. Before the doctors arrive, you need to make sure that the baby is in bed. Physical activity can only make the situation worse.
  5. You should not give your child any strong medications on your own. Quite often, parents themselves are to blame for the deterioration of their children’s condition. Incorrectly chosen medications can harm the baby.
  6. If there are blood impurities in the vomit, then the baby must be put to bed and an ice pack placed on his stomach. You can also let your baby swallow a piece of ice. The cold will constrict the blood vessels and stop bleeding. If there are drops of blood in the vomit, then you should not give the child a lot of water. If a mother gives a sick child a lot of liquid in the presence of blood in the vomit, then she should not expect the child’s condition to normalize.
  7. You need to temporarily give up food.

2 Drug treatment

Medicines for vomiting for children are different from the medicines most often used to treat adults. All children's pharmaceutical products must contain a reduced dosage of the drug.

Currently, pharmacies have many medications that are produced in the form of sweet suspensions and syrups. Children like such drugs much more, so experts advise paying attention to them. It is advisable to store children's medications separately from adults (so as not to accidentally mix them up).

Smecta is a very popular and effective remedy that is often used to treat vomiting in children. This medicine is an excellent help for intestinal infections. You should start taking Smecta from the very first days of the disease. This anti-vomiting medicine comes in powder form. During the day you need to use at least 2-3 sachets of Smecta. The course of treatment usually lasts from 3 to 7 days. In terms of its action, this medicine can be compared to activated carbon (only Smecta is a stronger medicine).

Enterofuril is another remedy that will help improve the condition of the baby when vomiting. This medicine is available in the form of a capsule or suspension. It is an intestinal antibiotic that destroys almost all vomiting agents. The dosage of Enterofuril directly depends on the age of the baby. You need to take this drug twice a day for 1 week.

If vomiting is accompanied by constipation, then experts often prescribe for the baby. These medications should not be used for too long a period, otherwise there is a high risk of complications.

Mezim-Forte is available in tablet form. This medicine can be prescribed to both adults and children. Mezim-Forte contains enzymes that help the baby’s body digest food.

If the cause of vomiting is dysbacteriosis, then doctors advise giving the child Primadophilus, which is available in the form of capsules or powder. This product contains bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. Children under 5 years old should be given no more than 1 Primadofilus capsule per day.

Creon 10000 is often prescribed for vomiting in children. This medicine is produced in the form of capsules, which are very easy to open, and their contents are poured into liquid food or drink.

Motilium for children is no less popular. This medicine is available in the form of a suspension. By giving your child Motilium, you can expect improvements to appear very soon. This remedy helps even with very severe vomiting and nausea. The dosage of this drug directly depends on the age of the baby.

You can treat with tablets such as Lactofiltrum. This medicine inhibits pathogenic bacteria and promotes the rapid removal of toxins from the child’s body. Lactofiltrum is prescribed if vomiting in a baby is the cause of dysbiosis, food poisoning or food allergy. The dosage of the drug depends on the age of the baby. Children from 8 to 12 years old can be given the drug three times a day.

3 How to deal with dehydration?

As mentioned above, when children vomit strongly, there is a high risk of dehydration. In this case, Regidron will help with nausea and vomiting. This remedy is used to replenish fluid in cases of severe diarrhea and vomiting. Rehydron is available in powder form, which must be diluted in warm water. 1 sachet of medicine should be poured into 1 liter of warm water and the baby should be given small sips throughout the day.

To restore salts and fluid volume in children under 1 year of age, experts advise giving the baby formula or breast milk as often as possible. If a child is fed formula, it should not be changed under any circumstances. In between feedings, the baby should be given water with Regidron. An infant should drink 60-120 ml of this anti-vomiting remedy after each episode of vomiting. For these purposes, you can use a small spoon or syringe without a needle. This drug should be given to children until the baby completely satisfies his thirst. If the child vomits immediately after drinking, then you should try to give him something to drink again.

To restore salts and fluids in children over 1 year old, it is necessary to feed them their usual foods. The child's diet should include a lot of meat, boiled vegetables, flour products and dairy products. For a while, you need to exclude all sweets from your baby’s diet. After several episodes of vomiting, the child should be given 50 ml of medicinal fluid per 1 kg of weight. After some time, you can start giving your baby 100 ml of the product after each episode of vomiting. As in the case of infants, if the child vomits immediately after drinking, then he should be given the Regidron solution to drink again.

4 Herbal medicine

From not only medications, but also traditional medicine recipes. Quite often, to normalize the condition of the baby, homemade medicines that contain herbs and plants are used:

  1. Dill water is an excellent home remedy for frequent and severe vomiting. 1 tsp The fruits should be kept in 1 glass of boiling water for 15 minutes. Next, the resulting consistency must be simmered in a water bath for at least half an hour. During the day, the child should be given 1 tsp. such a drug. It can even be used to treat infants.
  2. You can help your child with severe vomiting of bile using a tincture of peppermint leaves. 2 tablespoons of raw material must be poured with 1 glass of boiling water, wait 2 hours and drink 1 tsp. 5 times a day. Peppermint boasts excellent antispasmodic and choleretic properties.
  3. No less popular is a remedy for vomiting, such as lemon balm tincture. Pour 1 spoon of raw material into a bowl, pour 400 ml of boiling water, wrap it in a warm scarf and wait 60 minutes. After 1 hour, the product should be strained, heated and drunk 1/2 tbsp. every 2 hours.
  4. If the child is 3 years old or more, then he can be treated with a decoction of valerian: 1 tsp. Finely chopped dried valerian root should be poured with 1 cup of hot water, boiled in a water bath for 15 minutes, wait until the product has cooled, and strain it. You need to take valerian decoction orally three times a day, 1-2 tsp.

Medicinal drugs can be replaced with the following no less effective collection: you need to mix peppermint, chamomile and lemon balm in equal quantities. All herbs must initially be chopped. Pour 1 spoon of the mixture into a cup of boiling water, close the lid and leave for 30 minutes. Strain the finished tincture and give 1/2 tsp to a child under 3 years of age. three times a day.

5 Other popular means

A solution is prepared at home that can be given to the baby instead of Regidron. To prepare it, dissolve 1/2 tsp in 1 liter of boiled water. soda and salt. Add 4 tablespoons of sugar to the resulting consistency and mix everything thoroughly. This solution should be taken orally throughout the day in small sips.

If your child is vomiting, you can give him baked quince. This fruit can also be consumed raw. The quince must first be grated.

You can replace medications with ginger water.

To prepare it, stir 1/6 tsp in 1 glass of hot water. ginger root powder. This remedy will help in a short time and vomiting. It can even be used to treat children under 3 years of age. Such babies should be given 1-2 tsp of ginger water. three times a day.

Medications and home remedies for vomiting in children should never be used without first consulting a specialist. An experienced doctor should tell you what to give your baby. Self-medication often causes an allergic reaction or a sharp deterioration in the baby’s well-being.

Many parents worry if their baby begins to have severe abdominal pain. Pain syndrome manifests itself in different ways, because its appearance is associated with various abnormalities. You cannot ignore discomfort. Self-treatment is not advisable. To begin with, it is recommended to understand what causes tummy pain in a child. After this, it is allowed to eliminate the provoking factor.

Why can a child's stomach hurt?

As already noted, pain comes in different forms. Sometimes it poses a significant threat to the child’s life.

One of the most dangerous situations is pancreatitis or peritonitis. The discomfort manifests itself so clearly that the child tries to lie down. Any movement leads to increased pain. At the same time, poor health leads to increased body temperature and severe vomiting. The abdominal muscles are constantly tense. In such situations, you should not give your baby painkillers until the doctor arrives. Any pills taken to make you feel better will not allow the doctor to correctly determine the cause of the illness.

Often the pain syndrome is caused by the appendix (an extension of the cecum). Its inflammation begins after the ingestion and accumulation of food that cannot be digested. Many children over six years of age have experienced appendicitis, but the risk cannot be excluded even in a very young child.

Self-diagnosis of inflammation of the appendix in the early stages turns out to be an extremely difficult undertaking, since pain in the lower abdomen on the right side does not always make itself felt. Discomfort is noted even in the upper left or in the navel area. Over time, the pain syndrome becomes more pronounced.

At the same time, the baby faces a high temperature. The child ceases to show interest in activities, games, and food. A bad signal is the onset of vomiting, indicating a deterioration in health. Slowing down is unacceptable, so you cannot do without the help of a doctor.

Symptoms of diarrhea in babies:

  • abdominal cramps;
  • loose stools, which may contain bloody and mucous discharge;
  • nausea and vomiting;
  • fever or chills;
  • Strong headache.

You need to remember: constipation often leads to noticeable pain (usually in the stomach area). If a child does not go to the toilet for several days, you need to sound the alarm. No less pleasant is the situation when the baby suffers from dry and hard stool. Attempts to go to the toilet lead to pain and blood in the stool.

Worms are another cause of frequent abdominal pain in children. This disease is accompanied by loss of appetite and severe vomiting. At night the child suffers from insomnia. If the baby falls asleep, parents hear the creak of his teeth. In some cases, worms (worms) appear in the feces.

Poisoning usually appears unexpectedly. If a child complains of sudden and severe abdominal pain, nausea, or loose stools, it is recommended to pay special attention to his well-being. If there is confidence in poisoning, the baby needs to empty the stomach.

To do this, induce vomiting, which can be repeated. To eliminate the risk of dehydration and reduce stress on the stomach, the baby is given boiled water. You need to drink little and often.

An emotional state can provoke severe abdominal pain in a baby. In such situations, the presence of any of the above diseases is not necessary. Fear causes abdominal cramps. The pain is considered neurotic.

If examinations do not reveal any disorders or diseases, the pain remains unexplained. You can guess: the child is pretending. In this case, it is recommended to consult a psychologist or neurologist.

Tummy pain in children occurs for various reasons. Most often it is caused by the following diseases:

  • gastrointestinal tract infections;
  • appendicitis;
  • inguinal hernia;
  • hepatitis;
  • pancreatitis.

If your baby suffers from constant abdominal pain and is getting worse, you should not self-medicate. The only way to help the baby is to consult a doctor in a timely manner. Eliminating unpleasant symptoms becomes a secondary task, because initially you need to get rid of the source that leads to a deterioration in well-being. Only after an examination the doctor has the right to make the correct diagnosis and begin appropriate treatment.

How to treat abdominal pain in a child

Most often, parents are able to independently eliminate abdominal pain in their baby. Efficiency is observed in the absence of severe pain and other serious symptoms (fever, vomiting). Mild discomfort is due to excessive gas formation. Relief occurs within a few hours after the child visits the toilet.

In such a situation, parents can help the baby on their own, so calling a doctor is no longer necessary.

The child needs to be calmed and fed with light, liquid food. Without instructions from a doctor, you should not give painkillers, laxatives, or give an enema. Your health should improve after your baby has had a bowel movement and released gas.

If constant constipation leads to tummy pain, it is recommended to adjust your diet. It is advisable to give your baby fresh vegetables, salad, apples, apricots.

Neurotic pain in the tummy is relieved with the help of valerian or motherwort. Before going to bed, it is recommended to drink warm milk with the addition of natural honey (if you are not allergic).

To eliminate psychological stress that can cause discomfort, you need to take more walks with your baby. In addition, it will be useful to avoid frequent television viewing and long computer games before bedtime.

A contrast shower helps normalize the emotional state. At the same time, with such a disease, one cannot do without consulting a doctor and increased monitoring of the baby’s condition, because new manifestations of symptoms may indicate another disease.

Medicines for abdominal pain in children

The classic option for eliminating abdominal pain not only in adults, but also in children is myotropic antispasmodics. Despite the complex and unusual name, the drugs can be found in any home. For example, No-Shpa deserves attention. Such drugs relax the smooth muscles of the intestine, ensuring relief from spasm. As a result, the pain syndrome goes away.

No-Shpa (Drotaverine)

Among the most popular and effective drugs prescribed to children is No-Shpa. The medicine has been around for many decades, but the trust of millions of doctors and patients contributes to its continued use. No-Shpa is allowed even for children and pregnant women, because there are practically no side effects.

No-Shpa helps in the following situations:

  • poisoning;
  • acute intestinal infections;
  • binge eating;
  • food allergies;
  • surgical pathologies of the abdominal organs.

The drug can be taken from the age of six. The most important task is to strictly follow the instructions for use.

No-Shpa is not recommended for children suffering from heart defects, severe circulatory failure, kidney and liver diseases. The tablets should not be used if you are intolerant to lactose or galactose. In this case, it is recommended to pay attention to other drugs.

Other antispasmodics

Sometimes No-Shpa is replaced by Papaverine, which is also a myotropic antispasmodic. In terms of its effectiveness, Papaverine is at the same level as Drotaverine. The drugs have approximately the same range of side effects and the list of situations when they can be useful. For children, Papaverine is allowed from six months.

Mebeverine (used for the drugs Sparex, Niaspam, Duspatalin) has a powerful antispasmodic and analgesic effect. The product successfully copes with any colic and does not have strict contraindications or severe side effects. In children, tablets based on Mebeverine are prescribed from the age of 12.

Medicines for abdominal pain in a child due to poisoning

Diarrhea and poisoning

Diarrhea often occurs in children under five years of age. The disease is caused by “intestinal” flu or gastroenteritis. A dangerous consequence of diarrhea is dehydration of the child’s body, from which the baby must be protected.

Main symptoms:

  • esophageal spasms;
  • diarrhea (sometimes with blood, mucus or plain water);
  • pungent odor of feces (dysentery may be suspected);
  • vomiting (sometimes accompanied by green-yellow water);
  • chills or fever;
  • Strong headache.

A child in this condition needs plenty of fluids. Weak tea and plain water will do.

It is advisable to give bananas as fruit, because they have a “fixing” effect.

A clear sign of stomach or intestinal bleeding is red or very dark stool. In this case, it is recommended to call emergency help, since you will not be able to correct the situation on your own.

Poisoning is manifested by pain in the tummy, vomiting, heat, loose stools with mucus. In such a situation, it is advisable for the baby to vomit repeatedly, since only this will make him feel better. You cannot do without “rinsing” the stomach with boiled water.

Diarrhea and poisoning are cases when you can try to improve your baby’s well-being on your own. It is important to remember that diarrhea and vomiting help remove water from the body. In this case, sodium, chlorine and potassium salts are lost. The primary task is to restore the water-salt balance. To do this, use gastrolit or rehydron, which are diluted in boiled water according to the instructions of the drug.

It is allowed to use activated carbon or a product based on it - Polysorb, a sorbent for absorbing harmful substances Enterosgel.

Treatment should not be completed by taking the above medications. After first aid, you will need to consult a doctor.

Abdominal pain in children in the navel area: what medications to give

Even if a baby’s abdominal pain is localized in the navel area (the most common option), a doctor must be called. Without the help of a specialist, it will not be possible to take maximum care of the child, and the risk of deterioration in health will still remain.

If the pain is caused by indigestion, you should reconsider the diet of the baby or his mother. You need to remember: the mother’s menu affects the baby’s condition if the baby is fed breast milk.

At the very beginning, foods that cause fermentation in the stomach and intestines are excluded from the diet. Vegetables and fruits are thoroughly processed before consumption. Fatty and fried foods are prohibited.

If stomach pain is a manifestation of diarrhea, in the first few hours the baby should be switched to a drinking diet. Subsequently, it is allowed to give soft porridges, lean soups, and light chicken broth.

If the baby has impaired intestinal motility, a light massage is recommended to alleviate the health condition. To normalize the functioning of the intestines, the drug Acipol with live bacteria is also prescribed.

If colic and increased gas formation lead to pain, it is recommended to take Linex, Riabal, Espumisan.

For constipation, children are given mild laxatives Gutalax, Duphalac, Forlax and glycerin suppositories.

In isolated cases, Smecta diluted with boiled water is prescribed. This solution is given within half an hour. Improved intestinal motility is guaranteed.

Unauthorized diagnosis with further self-medication of the baby is not the right approach.

The only advice is to stop self-medicating your child. Even drugs that initially seem harmless can only be prescribed by a doctor. Strict adherence to the dosage, taking into account the age of the baby, is a mandatory aspect. Self-medication harms the baby’s health, reduces immunity, and increases the body’s susceptibility to infections and diseases.

The child has a stomach ache: Komarovsky

Diarrhea is frequent (more than 2 times per day), uncontrollable discharge of feces in liquid form. This occurs due to the accelerated passage of intestinal contents. Almost all young parents have encountered this problem and often throw up their hands in confusion about what to do if their child has diarrhea: wait until everything goes away on its own, or take some measures, treat, or use folk remedies.

It is advisable to know as much information as possible about this intestinal disorder in order to prevent complications. And first of all, you need to think about what caused it.

For the most part, the causes of diarrhea depend on the age of the child. Each period of a baby’s life is characterized by special factors that contribute to loose bowel movements. This is especially true for the little ones.

Here, for example, is what may cause diarrhea in an infant:

  • formation of the gastrointestinal tract;
  • on the teeth when they erupt;
  • enzyme/lactose deficiency;
  • if a breastfed child has diarrhea, this may be a reaction to mother’s milk: it can be too thin, excessively fatty, or contain laxatives due to the mother’s failure to comply with a special diet;
  • incorrect introduction of the first complementary foods;
  • artificial mixture.

External reasons (typical for any age):

  • food poisoning from low-quality products;
  • fruits and vegetables that have a laxative effect;
  • Diarrhea is very common after antibiotics.
  • constant prolonged stress, nervous disorders;
  • poor hygiene: dirty hands, unwashed vegetables and fruits;
  • binge eating.

Internal diseases:

  • infections: salmonellosis, dysentery, gastroenteritis, rotavirus;
  • inflammation of the mucous membrane in the stomach, intestines, esophagus;
  • allergy;
  • gastrointestinal diseases: ulcers, chronic colitis, enteritis, gastric achylia, pancreatic insufficiency;
  • internal hemorrhoids;
  • Crohn's disease;
  • renal failure.

So diarrhea in a child can be caused by a variety of pathologies and age-related characteristics of the body. But with the same frequency, the causes are poor nutrition and poor hygiene. Therefore, parents need to carefully monitor these aspects to avoid such trouble. Depending on where exactly the failure occurred, diarrhea can be of different types.

Note to parents. Diarrhea caused by a stressful situation is called bear sickness. It occurs in children if for some reason they are afraid to go to kindergarten or school, or because of family conflicts. To eliminate such diarrhea, you need to give a sedative, take a relaxing herbal bath, and in advanced cases, go with the child to see a psychologist.

Kinds

Depending on the causes and mechanism of its occurrence, diarrhea in children can be of different types. Based on the classification, doctors prescribe treatment.

Depending on the reasons

  • Infectious

The cause can be any infectious disease: dysentery, salmonellosis, foodborne illnesses, viruses, amoebiasis. Until a child is 2 years old, in winter he often becomes hostage to viral diarrhea. The incubation period can last several days. It all starts with vomiting, continues with diarrhea, and ultimately ends with fever, muscle pain and headache (read about diarrhea with vomiting in). The average duration is a week.

  • Nutritional

The main reason is a long-term violation of the diet, a monotonous diet poor in vitamins, food allergies to foods or medications.

  • Dyspeptic

The reason is a disrupted digestive process due to secretory insufficiency of the liver, stomach, small intestine, and pancreas.

  • Toxic

This is the result of kidney failure or poisoning (most often from arsenic or mercury).

  • Medication

It is a consequence of suppression of the intestinal flora and dysbacteriosis by antibiotics (less often by other drugs).

  • Neurogenic

The reason is stress, anxiety, fear, anxiety, depression.

Depending on the flow mechanism

  • Hypokinetic: mushy, liquid, small amount, foul odor resulting from a reduced rate of movement of food through the intestines.
  • Hypersecretory: profuse, watery diarrhea is a consequence of increased secretion of salts and water into the intestines.
  • Hyperkinetic: not plentiful, liquid, mushy, the reason is the increased speed of food movement through the intestines.
  • Hyperexudative: watery, not abundant, formed when liquid penetrates into the inflamed intestine.
  • Osmolar: fatty, abundant, with remnants of undigested food, occurs with reduced absorption of salts and water by the intestines.

In addition, depending on the severity of the disease, doctors may diagnose the child with chronic or acute diarrhea. The first continues for three weeks, the second can be stopped during this period.

This does not apply to some specific situations. For example, it is impossible to say exactly how many days dental diarrhea can last: for some it may be a one-time occurrence, for others it will torment the child until the tooth comes out. This sometimes takes a week or even more. Treatment will depend not only on these classifications, but also on the nature of the bowel movements and accompanying symptoms.

Sometimes it happens. When going on vacation with your child, keep in mind that he may develop “traveler’s diarrhea,” which is diagnosed when the climate changes. After adaptation, the stool disorder will disappear.

Clinical picture

Everyone is accustomed to the fact that children's yellow diarrhea is to some extent the norm, indicating the absence of serious pathologies in the body. The most common cause is indigestion due to poor quality food. But there are times when a child’s liquid feces are of a completely different color, and even with different impurities. By carefully studying them, parents will be able to understand the cause of diarrhea and respond to this problem in a timely manner.

  • Light

Too light diarrhea in a child can have a variety of reasons, including such a dangerous disease as hepatitis.

  • Watery

Mucous, watery diarrhea is a common symptom of intestinal infections, overeating, and intolerance to cow's milk. The general condition of the child does not suffer. Quickly leads to dehydration. Very dangerous for infants.

  • Bloody

Bloody stools indicate a bacterial infection. With greenish lumps and red streaks - dysentery. Green or orange flakes - salmonellosis or coli infection. At the same time, the temperature rises.

  • White

Particular attention should be paid to white diarrhea. In most cases, it is not dangerous for infants, as it is a reaction to breast milk. But at an older age, white diarrhea is the main symptom of hepatitis.

  • Green

Of the total number, the company is distinguished by a significantly shorter shelf life of its products compared to other manufacturers. This is explained by the absence of aggressive preservatives. For those who could not find safe products, we recommend the official online store of the manufacturer mulsan.ru. Be careful in your choice, read the composition of not only food products, but also cosmetics and household chemicals.

Often, parents may encounter a situation where their child experiences stomach pain. When a child has a stomach ache, what should concerned parents do first? What could be the cause, as well as how to relieve the symptoms without harming the child, we will tell you in this article.

So, you are faced with a not very pleasant situation when a child has a stomach ache. In this case, parents should pay especially close attention to the nature and duration of attacks of pain, which may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and fever.

If these symptoms occur, you should immediately seek medical help. But before the doctor arrives, parents should know what to do to alleviate the child’s condition.

Symptoms of diseases

In order to understand what is causing the discomfort, it is necessary to localize the pain. Each disease is characterized by pain in a certain place:

  • If the baby has a dull pain on the right side in the upper abdomen, which may also be accompanied by nausea, a rise in temperature to 39-40°C, as well as diarrhea with mucous discharge, painful urination, then in this case we may be talking about appendicitis.
  • Painful sensations on the left under the ribs. This may indicate a pancreatic disease. If after the activity of the baby, as well as during intense physical activity, pain occurs, then we are talking about improper functioning of the diaphragm, which can be caused by a severe bruise.
  • Pain in the stomach extends to the navel area. This may indicate problems with the gastrointestinal tract. This may be a consequence of improper and irregular nutrition. If painful sensations are also accompanied by elevated temperature, then we are most likely talking about poisoning through heavy metals.
  • Acute pain in the abdomen. With these painful sensations, the child has difficulty moving, severe tension in the abdominal wall appears, and all this is accompanied by a high temperature. Here we can talk about chronic pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract or the appearance of an intestinal infection.
  • Pain occurs on the side. This may indicate inflammatory processes in the kidneys (nephritis). Sharp pain combined with elevated temperature is a reason to urgently call a doctor.
  • If there is severe pain in the abdomen, and at the same time the child has an elevated temperature, then it is quite possible that we are talking about peritonitis. Difficulties arise when the child moves. This condition may be caused by complications of gastritis, intestinal obstruction, or exacerbation of appendicitis.

Thus, in most cases, if a child has a stomach ache, it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor for qualified help.

Causes of diseases

If a child has a stomach ache, then, first of all, we must understand what caused it. Diagnosis of the causes of pain, as well as timely assistance will help avoid complications.

Stomach problems

One of the causes of pain in the stomach can be called gastritis, which has several varieties:

  • bacterial type - can be caused by Helicobacter pylori infection;
  • acute gastritis occurs mainly in stressful situations or as a result of a serious illness;
  • the erosive type occurs in a child after long-term use of certain medications;
  • viral gastritis - when a viral infection enters the body;
  • a chronic disease generally occurs over a long period of time in a latent form without symptoms;
  • allergic gastritis is a type of acute gastritis that can be triggered by certain foods.

The next fairly common disease that causes pain and discomfort in a child’s stomach is an ulcer. Its causative agent is most often Helicobacter pylori infection. It is impossible to identify it on your own. It is necessary to undergo examination at the clinic.

Pain in the abdominal area can also be due to various injuries that can be caused by surgery. In this case, it is imperative to consult a doctor.

Other reasons

Other causes of pain in the stomach include the following:

  • Poisoning, in addition to abdominal pain, is accompanied by symptoms such as fever, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
  • Hypolactasia occurs when the stomach is unable to digest milk sugar. The main symptoms include pain, gas and heaviness in the stomach, indigestion.
  • Infectious diseases of the urinary tract. May be accompanied by pain when visiting the toilet.
  • Appendicitis can be confidently called one of the most serious diseases. The main symptoms include pain under the ribs on the right, fever, nausea and vomiting. If symptoms appear, call an ambulance immediately.

Helping a child with abdominal pain

If a child has abdominal pain, what can you give him to relieve his condition? It is not recommended to self-medicate, as there is no guarantee that you were able to correctly determine the cause of the pain.

It should be remembered that:

  • There is no need to give your child painkillers before the doctors arrive, as they can cause difficulties during diagnosis.
  • You should absolutely not give your child antibiotics or enzyme-based medications that are designed to improve intestinal motility.
  • If you feel nauseous, vomiting and severe abdominal pain, then you should refrain from solutions of potassium permanganate, as well as alcohol tinctures and tea.
  • The use of folk remedies is allowed only in the treatment of constipation or diarrhea.

In case of acute pain in the stomach, fever, vomiting and other symptoms in a child, you should urgently call an ambulance.

For nausea

What can you give if you have abdominal pain and nausea:

  • You can give your child unsweetened black tea and still mineral water.
  • For nausea, it is best to prepare a decoction of chamomile, mint and lemon balm. You can use the components separately, or all together. To relieve symptoms, you need to give 1 tbsp. spoon of decoction three times a day.
  • In this case, water with dill can also help. The prepared decoction of steamed dill seeds is not only designed to relieve nausea, but also to reduce colic.
  • You can also use smecta or activated carbon.

If pain in the stomach is accompanied by nausea and vomiting, then in this case it is necessary to use Regidron to eliminate dehydration. In case of strong vomiting, before the doctor arrives, it is necessary to give the child a small amount of boiled water at intervals of 5-10 minutes. To relieve the gag reflex, you can also give a decoction of valerian, dill water, as well as lemon balm or mint tea.

At a temperature

If there is an increase in temperature and pain in the abdominal area, then in this case the following types of treatment can be used before the ambulance arrives:

  • If the temperature has not exceeded 38°, you can use antipyretic drugs for children (Panadol, Paracetamol, Efferalgan);
  • To combat dehydration, it is better to give boiled water frequently and in small portions;
  • Children of different ages tolerate a drug such as Regidron well;
  • If there is a temperature above 39-40°, as well as pain on the right side, then we can talk about appendicitis. In this case, it is prohibited to give any drugs. You need to ensure peace until the doctor arrives.

If diarrhea is observed, then before the doctor arrives, you can give the child activated charcoal, Smecta, Regidron, Oralit or chamomile decoction. Still mineral water or rice broth are also suitable.

For constipation

In case of constipation, if you do not know how to treat it, you can give the following recommendations:

  • it is necessary to limit the consumption of fatty, spicy and fried foods;
  • it is necessary to exclude the consumption of white bread from the diet;
  • for healing it is necessary to consume beets with vegetable oil;
  • Steamed prunes are useful;
  • make a Microlax microenema.

Preventive measures

To prevent the appearance of painful sensations in the abdominal area, it is recommended to adhere to the following tips:

  • follow the established meal plan, and if you have chronic diseases, stick to a diet;
  • reduce the consumption of fried, spicy and fatty foods to a minimum;
  • if possible, eliminate or minimize the consumption of confectionery, pizza, soda;
  • consume fermented milk products, fruits and vegetables, lean meat and fish more often;
  • move more often, which will help strengthen the immune system;
  • dress warmly in winter to avoid hypothermia;
  • observe the rules of personal hygiene before and after meals;
  • maintain a calm atmosphere in the family without stressful situations.

The cause of painful sensations in the abdomen is colic and increased gas formation resulting from the consumption of certain types of foods. Then diet can help. However, these symptoms may also indicate more serious problems - gastritis or stomach ulcers. Acute pain can be a harbinger of appendicitis or cystitis and requires calling an ambulance. For any type of stomach pain that occurs in a child, you should consult a doctor for advice.

What should you do if your child has a stomach ache? Should you limit yourself to a simple painkiller, consult a doctor, or urgently call an ambulance? Every parent has to deal with such questions. The causes of abdominal pain in a child can be either the most common or indicate the presence of a serious illness. At the same time, getting an accurate and detailed description from a child of what exactly hurts him is not so easy. Fortunately, in most cases, abdominal pain in children does not pose any danger and goes away quickly.

Causes of abdominal pain in children

  • Infections. The entry of viruses and bacteria into a child’s body can cause abdominal pain and cause a disease called “gastric” or “” (gastroenteritis). Typically, illnesses caused by viral infections resolve quickly, while bacterial infections may require antibiotics.
  • Food. Food poisoning (their symptoms are similar to those of gastroenteritis), food allergies, eating too much food, increased gas formation - all these cases can cause bloating and complaints of pain in the child. In such cases, pain begins a short time after eating.
  • Poisoning. Can range from the usual run-of-the-mill problems (such as a child eating soap) to more serious problems such as swallowing pins, magnets, coins, botulism caused by expired food, or the consequences of an overdose of medications (such as paracetamol).
  • Diseases requiring surgery, such as intestinal obstruction.
  • Complications from diseases not related to the digestive system. For example, a child may experience abdominal pain if they have diabetes.

Symptoms

Parents or other relatives usually quickly notice that something is wrong with the child. Very young children can cry while standing, bending in half, and lying down - curling up into the fetal position and tucking their knees to their chest. Older children usually immediately say that their stomach hurts. And teenagers sometimes consider it a matter of honor to endure pain, and the parent has to balance between fears for the child’s health and preventing him from becoming even more depressed.

If a child complains of abdominal pain, the following circumstances must first be clarified:

  • How long does your stomach hurt? In the simplest cases that do not require medical intervention, the pain quickly goes away (for example, with increased gas formation caused by the consumption of an inappropriate product, or in uncomplicated cases of gastroenteritis). This pain usually does not last long. But if your child has frequent stomach pain or a single attack of pain lasts more than a few hours, you should consult a doctor.
  • Duration of pain. If the cause of abdominal pain was gastrointestinal flu or gas, the pain goes away within a few hours. But if it lasts more than a day, you should consult a doctor.
  • Where exactly does your stomach hurt? Do not worry too much if the child has pain in the middle of the abdomen (in these cases, when asked to demonstrate exactly where it hurts, the child points to the navel area). The situation is more serious if the stomach hurts in other places, especially if the pain is localized in the lower part of the right half of the abdomen - this is where appendicitis is located.
  • The child's well-being. If your child has severe stomach pain and looks very bad, you should seek medical help. What does "very bad" mean? First of all, you need to pay attention to skin color (pallor), the presence of perspiration, drowsiness, and lethargy. There are cases of concern if the child cannot be distracted from the pain by playing or if he refuses to drink or eat for several hours.
  • Vomit. Children often vomit when experiencing abdominal pain, but this alone is not an indicator of the severity of the disease. As with the sensation of pain, the main rule is that if vomiting lasts more than a day, you should consult a doctor.
  • Character of vomiting. If infants or children 2 to 3 years old have greenish or yellowish vomit, call a doctor. If the vomit contains blood, either coagulated or fresh, you should seek emergency help.
  • Diarrhea. Abdominal pain is often accompanied by diarrhea. As a rule, this circumstance indicates that the disease is caused by an infection. Diarrhea can last up to three days. If blood is visible in the stool, you should consult a doctor.
  • Heat. The presence of a high temperature in itself is not decisive in assessing the severity of the situation. Many dangerous diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are accompanied by normal temperature.
  • Pain in the groin. Sometimes children say that their stomach hurts, although in fact it hurts in another place, for example, with testicular torsion in male children. Testicular volvulus occurs when the testicle rotates and thereby pinches the nerves in the spermatic cord. The child may be embarrassed to name a specific place, so you need to ask if he has pain “lower”. In the early stages, testicular torsion can be easily corrected, but the longer it lasts, the more difficult it is to cure. So if your child complains of groin pain, you should consult a doctor immediately.
  • Difficulty urinating. If your child experiences abdominal pain and trouble urinating (for example, urination is too frequent or painful), these circumstances may indicate an infection in the body. You should consult a doctor.
  • Skin rashes. Some dangerous diseases are also accompanied by a rash. In such cases, you should consult a doctor immediately.

Establishing diagnosis

A child's stomach can hurt for a variety of reasons, affecting several organ systems, each of which requires its own diagnostic tests. The doctor will review the child's medical history and perform an examination, which may include examining the rectum for blood. And based on the information received, the doctor may suggest performing the following tests.

The doctor may also suggest doing an x-ray of the abdominal cavity, an ultrasound of the abdomen or testicles, and a computed tomography scan of the abdomen. Also, depending on the child’s condition, irrigoscopy (examination of the colon using a contrast agent), sphincterometry (measuring the pressure in the patient’s anal sphincter) or examination of the vagina may be performed. Sometimes additional examination by a gastroenterologist or pediatric surgeon is required.

Purpose of treatment

Treatment depends on many factors: medical history, the child’s condition, the results of examination and research, and the child’s individual reactions. If the disease that caused the abdominal pain is not particularly dangerous, the child can stay at home. More serious cases require outpatient treatment or even surgery.

At home, the child should be placed on bed rest and ensure sufficient fluid intake to prevent dehydration. Follow a diet; it is better to give food in semi-liquid form. You should not give medications without a doctor’s prescription (especially antibiotics and aspirin) and do not get carried away with traditional medicine methods (for example, uncontrolled use of medicinal herbs).

If the child has a fever, you can give an antipyretic, for example, paracetamol-based drugs. Drug treatment is recommended if the temperature is 38 degrees or higher, and diarrhea or vomiting lasts more than a day.

What to give a child for abdominal pain at home

Parents and guardians should closely monitor the child's condition and immediately consult a doctor at the first sign of danger. Particularly careful monitoring of a child’s well-being is required when he is in the process of recovery. It is especially difficult for parents if the child is a teenager; they have to be sophisticated so that the child does not take the manifestation of their care as an intrusion and does not rebel.

Bed rest. Lying down helps relieve abdominal pain a little. If you lie face down on the bed, the pain from intestinal gas is less noticeable; however, the child will find the most comfortable position for himself.

Diet. People can live for a long time without food, but they need to constantly drink. But you should not force your child to drink; Dehydration takes time to develop. With severe vomiting, the child is simply unable to retain a large amount of liquid. Usually in such cases, doctors recommend giving liquid in small portions (about half a glass) every half hour until the child is able to drink on his own. Your child should avoid drinking colored liquids (coffee, tea), soda, milk, too salty (isotonic drinks, sports drinks) or sweet (fruit juices) liquids.

  • What to give your child to drink. Giving your child only water can lead to salt imbalance in the body. There is no need to give milk to a child, since in case of pain, the child’s digestive system absorbs it with great difficulty. Therefore, doctors recommend electrolyte solutions that normalize the water-alkaline balance in the body. You can buy them without a prescription. Older children can already be given broth. If your child asks for carbonated drinks, you should choose ones that do not contain caffeine. Before giving a drink with gas to a child, you should let him breathe out a little so that the child can tolerate it more easily.
  • Solid food. The child himself will say when he wants regular food. The transition to a normal diet should start with white bread croutons, then bananas, baked apples, rice without seasoning, and monitor the body’s reaction to changes in diet.

If a child has a stomach ache, what can be given to relieve the pain?

If the pain is caused by the stomach, esophagus, or small intestine, you can give your child one of the antacid medications. Sometimes a warm compress, a heating pad on the stomach, or a bath with hot but comfortable water temperature helps. To relieve high fever, you can use medications containing paracetamol.

What medications should not be given to a child?

Most doctors advise avoiding aspirin. You should not give your child antibiotics without a doctor's prescription. Also, doctors usually do not recommend resorting to self-medication methods, for example, drinking herbal infusions. If the parents did use traditional medicine methods, at the doctor’s appointment it is necessary to tell exactly what they gave the child. Some methods used in traditional medicine may affect the effectiveness of the proposed treatment. It is also better to refrain from using antispasmodics: they can blur the picture of the disease and make it difficult for a doctor to make a diagnosis.

Prospects

The speed of recovery depends on the cause of abdominal pain. If it can be detected early in the development of the disease, the overall prognosis will be favorable. If the disease is neglected, it can lead to complications and even threaten the child’s life. Accordingly, the sooner parents or guardians see a doctor, the better.