"Mom, My Tummy Hurts:" Children and Stomachaches

Children often have a tough time explaining what hurts and where. And when your child has an upset stomach, any number of things could be wrong.

Young children aren't always able to tell you what's wrong when they don't feel well. So, as a parent, you've got to do some investigative work to figure out what's really going on. If your child complains of an upset stomach, it can mean any number of things. Ask your child lots of questions and look for patterns in her symptoms to get to the bottom of her upset stomach.

Upset Stomach: What Stomachaches Can Mean in Children

When a child complains of a stomachache, it's often difficult for parents to figure out the source of this common but vaguedigestive complaint.

Stomachaches are "a challenging problem to evaluate, because kids are not good at locating their pain," notes Marsha H. Kay, MD, a pediatric gastroenterologist and head of pediatric endoscopy at the Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital in Ohio. "The younger the child is, the less specific their symptoms are and the less they are able to [pinpoint the location] of pain."

To pinpoint the cause of a child's upset stomach, parents should focus on any changes in the child's behavior.

"The things parents should pay attention to are [any indications that the stomachache is] interfering with play and activities," advises Dr. Kay. Also, if an upset stomach is waking them up from sleep or is associated with other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, blood in the stool, these are signs that would require an evaluation by the pediatrician.

Kay also points out that sometimes kids will use a stomachache to try to get out of school. She suggests taking note of any patterns — does your child only complain of stomachaches on school mornings? Does the upset stomach magically disappear if a fun activity is planned? If so, ask your child if someone or something in particular is troubling her at school.

Upset Stomach: Play the Detective

There are many things that can lead to stomachaches in children. These are some frequent causes to consider:

• Overeating or eating fatty, sugary, or spicy foods
• Lactose intolerance
• Diarrhea or constipation
• An illness or infection (including intestinal, respiratory, and ear infections)
• Hunger
• Appendicitis
• Functional bowel problems
• Emotional stress

It may take a bit of trial and error on your part to figure out if your child's upset stomach can be easily remedied.

"Sometimes kids have stomachaches because they're hungry, and they can't articulate that the pain is not really pain. Sometimes it's because they need to use the bathroom — they can't recognize these sensations," says Kay. This is especially common in young children, so take your child on a trip to the bathroom or consider when your child last ate — offer a snack in case she's just hungry.

Upset Stomach: Helping Your Child Feel Better

Whatever the cause of the stomachache, most parents just want their children to feel better. Here are some tips to help ease an upset stomach:

• Let her rest quietly while reading books or watching a movie.
• Encourage her to drink water or clear fluids.
• Withhold solid foods for a couple of hours, especially if she is throwing up.
• After a few hours, try to get her to eat a little bit of mild food that won't upset her stomach, like crackers, dry toast, applesauce, or plain rice.
• Place a warm cloth or a heating pad on her belly for about 20 minutes.
• Don't give your child an over-the-counter pain reliever that could aggravate her stomachache or mask important symptoms.

If your child's upset stomach doesn't get better or is accompanied by fever, intense vomiting, diarrhea, or bloody stool, call your pediatrician. Fortunately though, most stomachaches can be remedied with a little quiet time and a lot of love.