⁃ Mom, my tummy hurts!
How many times have we heard this phrase at home? And how many times have we not known why, the cause of their discomfort or found the best solution?
Identifying the reason for your child’s stomach pain can be hard work. The key is to focus on the area where he says and points to that pain, and to recognize other symptoms he may or may not have. If he complains of stomach pain after meals, but has no other symptoms, it’s probably because he overeaten. However, if you have a fever, vomiting and/or diarrhea in addition to stomach pain, it is very likely that you have something more serious. What is it that may be causing you to feel the pain?
One of the most common stomach problems in young children is constipation.
Help your child by giving him enough fluids during the day. When he is very constipated, try to give him foods that produce softer stools, for example, oatmeal, pear, plum, or peas.
If he has difficulty going to the bathroom, see your doctor, who may recommend a lubricant, suppository, etc.
In turn, gas is also another very common cause of abdominal pain. Perhaps one of the most acute pains in children is for this reason. On the other hand, gastroenteritis is due to inflammation of the stomach and intestines caused by a viral or bacterial infection. If this causes vomiting or diarrhea accompanied by fever and loss of appetite, this could quickly lead to dehydration. Therefore, it is very important that you make sure to give him plenty of fluids to prevent this from happening.Also, a cold, as unbelievable as it may seem, could cause your child’s stomach to hurt. Since much of the mucus that is produced during respiratory illnesses goes down the throat and when children swallow, it could cause irritation in the stomach. Finally, we should not rule out that he may be lactose intolerant. This happens when a person’s body does not produce enough lactase, an enzyme we need to digest lactose, which is the main type of sugar contained in milk. Symptoms of lactose intolerance can include nausea, diarrhea, cramps, bloating and gas. Lactose intolerance usually appears later in childhood or adolescence, and not when they are so young.
In either case, we should visit our pediatrician to rule out possibilities and resolve the issue as soon as possible, to prevent it from escalating.
