When your child says their stomach hurts, it can be hard to know what you should do. Most kids have bellyaches at some point. Lots of times, an upset stomach, gas or mild tummy cramps pass in a day or two with simple home care.
But sometimes, abdominal pain in children is a sign of a problem that needs medical care. Learn more about what could be causing it and possible red flag symptoms.
What is abdominal pain in children?
Abdominal pain simply means pain in the belly area. It can range from mild discomfort to sharp cramps. In many cases, this pain isn’t a sign of serious disease and symptoms come and go.
Kids usually describe their pain in everyday ways:
- “My tummy hurts”
- “It feels funny around my belly button”
- “It’s hard to poop”
Keep in mind that kids often can’t describe where the pain is and what kind of pain it is. “This is because the gut nerves don’t map neatly to a specific point the way nerves in your skin do. Pain from the stomach and intestines can be felt in a broader area and can be vague,” said Swati Kolpuru, MD, a pediatric gastroenterologist with Banner Children’s.
Common mild causes of tummy troubles
Many episodes of stomach pain are harmless and improve at home within 24 hours with rest, fluids and simple adjustments:
- Gas and digestion: Air bubbles or food moving through the intestines can feel like fluttering, cramping or sharp twinges. It may come and go, which is called transient pain.
- Upset stomach: Kids can feel queasy after eating rich foods or eating too much. A bland diet of simple foods like toast, rice and applesauce and plenty of fluids can help.
- Constipation: Hard or infrequent bowel movements can cause discomfort. It can help if your child eats more fiber and drinks more water.
Dr. Kolpuru said some common conditions that cause tummy trouble can vary based on age.
- Acid reflux, milk protein intolerance and colic are common in infants. “Most of the time, symptoms are mild and manageable. Most babies outgrow this but some need special medications and formulas to support their nutrition and growth,” Dr. Kolpuru said.
- Older children may have tummy troubles from simple things like constipation, an irritated stomach lining or gastroenteritis.
Common infections that mimic stomach pain
Not all infections feel like a stomach bug. For example, strep throat can cause belly pain in some children. Ear infections, urinary tract infections and other illnesses may also cause tummy complaints.
Always watch for other symptoms of infections like fever, sore throat, headache or pain when urinating.
When anxiety or emotional stress may play a role
“The nerves in the gastrointestinal tract communicate closely with the brain through the gut-brain axis. Because of this connection, emotional stress, anxiety and depression can often show up as physical symptoms like abdominal pain, nausea or changes in bowel habits,” Dr. Kolpuru said.
Pain that comes and goes, improves when your child is distracted and shows up during stress can be linked to anxiety or depression. This is still real pain. It’s often called functional abdominal pain or a functional gastrointestinal disorder. It may improve with support for emotional health as well as physical care.
“Anxiety has become more common in today’s children and teens so we’re also seeing a rise in these functional GI conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS),” Dr. Kolpuru said.
Talk with your child’s provider if you notice mood changes alongside tummy pain.
What you can try at home
For mild tummy symptoms:
- Offer a bland diet with foods like bananas, rice, applesauce and toast, but do not force your child to eat.
- Encourage them to drink water or clear fluids so they stay hydrated.
- Try a warm compress on the abdomen for cramps.
- Track pain, bowel habits and fluids over 24 hours.
Red flags: When the pain may point to something more
Call your health care provider right away if your child’s pain is severe, doesn’t ease up or comes with any of these other warning signs. Your provider may want you to make an appointment, or they may tell you to go to the emergency room. When in doubt, it’s better to be seen as soon as possible than to wait.
Weight and eating
- Unexplained weight loss
- Not wanting to eat or drink
Vomiting or stool changes
- Repeated vomiting
- Vomiting blood or bile
- Black or tarry stool or blood in the stool
- Severe diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration
Severe symptoms
- Persistent pain that sticks around, gets worse or doesn’t improve in a day or two
- Pain that wakes your child up at night
- Sharp, steady pain on one side of the belly or near the belly button
- Pain with fever
- Feeling very tired or lethargic
How doctors find the cause
At the visit, a provider will rule out serious causes and come up with a treatment plan. They may:
- Ask detailed questions about pain, eating, bowel movements and timing
- Perform a physical exam
- Possibly order blood or stool tests
- Order imaging if needed
- Recommend possible treatments
- Refer you to a specialist, like a pediatric gastroenterologist, if needed
How to keep stomach issues at bay
Dr. Kolpuru recommends focusing on the basics to support healthy digestion and overall wellbeing:
- Offer your child a well-balanced diet to support growth and nutrition. “This also helps prevent constipation and keeps the digestive system moving normally,” she said.
- Limit processed foods, very spicy foods and sugary drinks to help reduce problems like acid reflux, gastritis, bloating and unhealthy weight gain.
- Encourage regular physical activity.
- Help make sure your child gets good sleep.
- Build age-appropriate coping skills for stress to help prevent or reduce functional gastrointestinal symptoms that can be triggered or worsened by stress and anxiety.
The bottom line
Most tummy troubles in kids are mild and get better with simple home care. But be sure to get your child checked if they have ongoing, severe or unusual pain. It’s especially important to get care right away if your child has a tummy ache plus vomiting, blood in the stool, weight loss or fever.
If you’re worried about your child’s stomach pain, make an appointment with a Banner Health provider who can help figure out what’s causing it and recommend treatment that can help your child feel better.
