Abdominal pain in children is a common ailment and a very common reason for visiting a pediatrician. However, as the causes of abdominal pain in children can be very different, the most important thing is to make a correct diagnosis for subsequent treatment.

Abdominal pain in childrenis usually functional, which means that detailed tests and laboratory analyzes show no abnormalities, but chronic and recurrent pain can significantly affect the impairment normal functioning of the child and deteriorate the quality of his / her life.

We also distinguish the so-called "red flags", that is, disturbing symptoms which must always be clarified by a doctor. They include:

  • stomach pain waking up baby at night
  • diarrhea with blood or mucus
  • pain radiating to the back or lower limbs
  • positive family history of gastrointestinal diseases
  • weight loss of the child or inhibition of weight gain

and general symptoms accompanying abdominal pain such as high fever, joint pains.

Abdominal pain in children is a very common symptom that requires a careful look at the doctor in order not to overlook situations that may pose a threat to the he alth or even life of a young patient.

Abdominal pain in children: diagnosis

Diagnostics always begins with a carefully collected interview. It is worth being well prepared to answer the questions that the doctor will ask:

  • When did the symptoms appear?
  • What intensifies and what alleviates symptoms, is the pain related to the meal?
  • Which foods trigger ailments and which don't?
  • Do the ailments have their own rhythm - does it hurt at certain times, if so, at what times?
  • Are there diarrhea? If so, what is the nature of the diarrhea?
  • Does stool contain mucus or traces of blood?
  • Have any gastrointestinal diseases in the family, if so, who and what?
  • Is the child developing properly (growth percentile grids, weight, school achievements)?
  • Does he take any medications permanently, is he chronically ill, has he been hospitalized, especially because of digestive problems? WhetherHave you already been diagnosed with abdominal pain? What tests were performed and what were the results?

Abdominal pain in children: research

After collecting an interview, it is often necessary to perform laboratory tests in order to deepen the diagnosis. The first laboratory tests usually include:

  • blood count with smear
  • urine general examination
  • basic blood chemistry (electrolytes, C-reactive protein, ESR)
  • stool test for occult blood
  • stool test for parasitic infection (parasite eggs and lamellae)
  • testing for infectionHelicobacter pylori- both blood test and stool test.

It is also often necessary to perform an ultrasound and / or X-ray of the abdominal cavity. Diagnostics in this area is usually carried out by a family doctor or a pediatrician. If a child requires further more specialized examinations, it is most often referred to a pediatric gastroenterologist or a hospital ward, where breathing tests (lactose intolerance), endoscopic examinations (e.g. gastroscopy) and tests for rarer diseases of the gastrointestinal tract can be performed.

Causes of Abdominal Pain in Children

The most common causes of abdominal pain in children, which usually do not require surgical intervention, are:

  • dyspepsia
  • food poisoning
  • angina
  • constipation
  • parasitic infection
  • gastroesophageal reflux
  • peptic ulcer disease
  • baby colic
  • food allergy
  • urinary tract infection
  • renal colic
  • respiratory infections.

Abdominal pain in children requiring the intervention of a surgeon

Another issue is abdominal pain that requires surgical intervention. These situations include mainly appendicitis and intussusception.

The abdominal pain with appendicitis is dull, continuous, beginning in the navel area and gradually moving to the right iliac plate. There, too, the pain becomes acute, localized. Ailments worsen with movements. You can observe that the child is reluctant to move and protects the right side when walking. Vomiting, low-grade fever or a mild fever are also common. It is also worth mentioning that appendicitis in younger children (before the age of 5) often has an atypical course and its symptoms may resemble a viral gastrointestinal infection with diarrhea and vomiting. In such children, appendicitis is often diagnosed too late.

Intussusception in a child(peak of incidence in most cases between 3 and 9 months of age) is suspected in the presence of two typical symptoms: severe colic abdominal pain and vomiting, and on physical examination - on the basis of a palpable tumor in the abdominal cavity and the presence of blood in the stool. In most cases, correct diagnosis is made within the first 24 hours of symptoms. A symptom of a "shooting target" is observed in the abdominal ultrasound performed.

Category:

Child's he alth