Pediatric Abdominal Pain
Pediatric Gastroenterology
Abdominal pain is commonly known as stomach aches, tummy aches, or belly aches. The younger the child, the harder it can be for a parent to decipher the underlying cause of the pain.
Symptoms
Children may point to their belly button and tell a parent that it “hurts”. They may also point to another area of their abdomen and complain of other symptoms besides pain, which can include nausea, difficulty going to the bathroom, or less appetite.
Causes
Depending on the age of the child, the location of the pain, and any associated symptoms, causes can vary from infections, food allergies or sensitivities, inflammation, or even side-effects of various medications. The pain could also be functional. The list of all possible causes of pediatric abdominal pain is too long to list, but in general, depending on how long the pain has lasted, and especially if there are more symptoms besides just pain, the child may need further testing or investigations.
Diagnosis
Similar to the various underlying possible causes, depending on a child’s age and the type/duration of pain, the diagnosis is made through a combination of asking the right questions, doing a thorough exam, and may include some additional tests.
Treatments
Treatments depend on the underlying cause. We will prescribe the right treatment for your child’s pain after your visit, depending on what is found on the exam and based on speaking to you and your child, and sometimes, based upon test results.
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