Abdominal Pain In Children

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Abdominal (ab-dom-ih-null) or "belly" pain is pain between the bottom of your child's rib cage and his groin. The groin is where your child's leg and abdomen meet. The pain may get better and go away. Or, the pain may get worse and not go away. Your child's abdominal pain may be as "sharp as a knife." or dull pain. The pain may stay in the same place or move around. Your child may have the pain all the time or it may come and go. Your child may have nausea (upset stomach), vomiting (throwing up), fever, diarrhea, or fainting. Your child may cry or scream with the abdominal pain.
  
  
• Abdominal pain may be caused by an infection or an injury. Overeating, gas pains, or food poisoning may cause abdominal pain. Other causes may be constipation (kon-stih-pay-shun) or diarrhea (di-uh-ree-uh). Your child may have abdominal pain because he has appendicitis (uh-pen-dih-si-tis) or other serious problems. Or, it may not be known what is causing your child's abdominal pain. Watch your child closely and call your caregiver if your child's pain is not better in 1 hour.

INSTRUCTIONS:

• Medicines:
  
  
  • Keep a written list of what medicines you give your child and when and why he takes them. Bring the list of his medicines or the pill bottles when you see your child's caregivers. Learn why you give him each medicine. Ask your caregiver for information about your child's medicines.
    
    
  • Always give your child's medicine as directed by caregivers. Call your caregiver if you think your medicines are not helping or if you feel your child is having side effects. Do not stop giving it until you discuss it with your caregiver. If you are giving antibiotics (an-ti-bi-ah-tiks), make sure your child takes them until they are all gone even if he feels better.
    
    
  • Do not give your child medicine for the belly pain because the medicine may hide the problem.
    
    
  • Do not give your child any medication without asking your caregiver first.
  
  
• Take your child's temperature every 4 hours.
  
  
• Give your child an oral rehydration (ree-hi-dra-shun) solution (ORS). You can buy ORS at a drug, grocery, or discount store. It has the right amounts of water, salts, and sugar your child needs to replace the lost water. Some of these come in fruit and bubble gum flavors.
  
  
  • Some types of ORS are ready to use. These should not be mixed with water or anything else.
    
    
  • Other types of ORS come as a powder you mix with boiled or bottled water. Follow your caregivers' directions when making this kind of ORS.
    
    
  • Start with small sips especially if your child is vomiting. Then slowly give more if your child can keep it down.
  
  
• Do not give your child solid food for 24 hours.
  
  
• Have your child rest in bed until he feels better. He should rest until feeling better.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• Your child's pain has lasted more than one hour.
  
  
• Your child has a fever (high body temperature).
  
  
• Your child's nausea and vomiting comes back after it has stopped.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• Your child's pain increases or is only in one specific area.
  
  
• Your child begins to vomit blood or you find blood in your child's BM.
  
  
• Your child is walking bent over, holding his abdomen, or refuses to walk.
  
  
• Your child's pain is in the testicle or scrotum.
  
  
• Your child's abdomen becomes swollen or very tender to the touch.
  
  
• Your child has trouble urinating.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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