Any form of discomfort in the belly which is often presented as “hurt” or “pain” by the child. As the child grows and becomes linguistically sophisticated, the complaint may become clearer and more specific. Other associated complaints include heartburn or chest pain, burping, bloating, and feeling full after eating extraordinarily small amounts of food.

Causes

A stomachache may be caused by an abnormality in the stomach, like an ulcer or inflammation. In many cases, no cause is found. However, there are many effective treatments.

Self Help Interventions

It is recommended to avoid fatty foods and excessive amounts of dairy products. Small frequent meals are better than the proverbial 2 or 3 square meals a day. Pay attention to certain food that your child’s body may not tolerate. Avoid over-counter-medications that can upset the stomach. Improve bowel health practices to avoid constipation, see the discussion on constipation. Screen for evidence of stress/anxiety at home or school and deal with these triggers once identified.

Call the office for a consultation if these conditions occur

• Change in bowel habits or vomiting
• Blood or mucus in stool
• Severe pain lasting more than an hour or persistent intermittent pain especially if associated with weight loss
• Pain that occurs at night disturbing sleep
• Fever