Child with stomachache

Stomachache is a relatively common symptom, especially for children with low immunity and resistance. Stomachache is a very common symptom. Of course, there are many diseases that can cause stomach pain in children, so if you want to completely cure your child’s stomach pain, you need to find out the cause first and then prescribe the right medicine. Below, we will introduce in detail the causes of abdominal pain in children.

1. Flatulence

Abdominal pain caused by bloating is common in infants whose digestive systems are not yet fully developed. This type of abdominal pain is mainly manifested by sudden loud crying, abdominal distension, clenched hands, and curled up between the legs and abdomen. This type of abdominal pain caused by bloating can often be relieved after the gas is discharged.

2. Acute mesenteric lymphadenitis

Mesenteric lymphadenitis is also a cause of recurrent abdominal pain in children, and these children often have upper respiratory tract infections. The abdominal pain of mesenteric lymphadenitis in children is mostly dull and spasmodic. The child will feel better between two pains. The pain can occur in any part of the abdomen, but because the mesenteric lymph nodes are most abundant at the terminal ileum, they often manifest as pain around the umbilicus or in the right lower abdomen after inflammation, which is often mistaken for appendicitis. However, unlike the pain manifestations of appendicitis, the abdominal pain caused by mesenteric lymphadenitis does not have rebound pain and can be diagnosed by ultrasound examination.

3. Intussusception

This condition is common in children under 2 years old, especially in children between 4 and 10 months old. The abdominal pain caused by intussusception often manifests as sudden paroxysmal abdominal pain and crying. Parents will say, "My child was fine a few hours ago, but then he started crying and making a fuss, and I couldn't comfort him no matter what I did." The reason for the paroxysmal pain is mainly related to the characteristics of intestinal peristalsis. When the peristaltic wave reaches the intussusception site, the pain will occur. Therefore, when intussusception occurs, the baby who is playing will suddenly cry very hard. After a while, the child will play like usual. After a period of time, the abdominal pain starts again, and the attacks repeat themselves. The pain is accompanied by pale face, irritable crying, and the legs involuntarily bend towards the abdomen. After a period of abdominal pain, vomiting and jam-like stools may occur. In addition, we can feel a sausage-like mass in the right upper abdomen or the middle of the abdomen of the baby with intussusception. When pressed, the child will cry even harder.

4. Stomach disease

Helicobacter pylori (Hp) is one of the most common pathogens living in the human gastric mucosa. Humans are the only natural host of this pathogen, and children are not immune. When children are infected with Hp, it is generally difficult for the body to clear it and slowly turns into a chronic infection, causing diseases such as chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer, resulting in symptoms such as anorexia, abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, acid reflux, and belching. The main manifestation is at least 3 discontinuous upper abdominal or periumbilical pains within 3 consecutive months or more.

5. Appendicitis

It is a very common acute abdominal condition in children. Compared with adults, children's organs are more delicate. When acute appendicitis occurs, the situation will be more serious and more likely to occur perforation. It may be complicated by diffuse peritonitis and even death.