what to give a 3 year old for stomach ache

As many parents know, children and stomach aches seem to go mitt in hand. Stomach hurting in kids can be caused by a variety of mutual reasons such as eating too much, needing to become to the bathroom, or anxiety or worry nearly an upcoming outcome. Nevertheless, if your child complains of stomach pain frequently, it can be difficult to know the best ways to assist and when to telephone call the doctor.

Megha S. Mehta, M.D., a pediatric gastroenterologist at Children's Health℠ and Banana Professor at UT Southwestern, explains when parents should worry about tum hurting and when a little rest and hydration is all your kid may need.

What can cause tummy pain in a child?

The about common causes of stomach pain in children include:

• Indigestion
• Infection or stomach bug
• Constipation
• Stress or anxiety
• Irritable bowel syndrome or functional abdominal pain
• Appendicitis (causes acute or sudden hurting)

Additional tummy hurting symptoms tin can vary based on what'south causing your child's stomach to hurt, but may include cramping, diarrhea, gas, bloating, nausea or vomiting. One of the near important symptoms to note is where your kid is feeling pain in their stomach.

"One of the first questions we enquire children is where their stomach hurts," explains Dr. Mehta. "Location of the pain tin aid physicians determine what is causing the pain, in addition to other characteristics such as severity of pain, when it occurs, what makes information technology better or worse and accompanying symptoms."

Stomach pain around the omphalos

Breadbasket pain around or nearly a child's umbilicus is ordinarily nothing to worry about. It'south one of the most common tummy hurting complaints among kids.

"Children often rub their bellies when they hurt and complain nearly general hurting effectually the omphalos," says Dr. Mehta. "This type of stomach hurting is typically caused by stress or eating something that didn't quite concord with them."

If your kid is complaining about stomach pain about the omphalos, y'all can:

• Encourage them to lay downward and rest
• Check to see if they need to poop
• Offering a glass of water
• Endeavour distracting them past reading a book together or playing a serenity game

Stomach hurting in the lower right function of the abdomen

Appendicitis is a serious medical emergency that can cause sudden, astringent pain in the lower right function of your child'southward stomach. If your kid complains of stomach hurting that moves to the lower right side of the belly, watch for other symptoms of appendicitis including:

• Fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Difficulty passing gas
• Loss of ambition
• Constipation
• Diarrhea

You should contact your child'due south pediatrician immediately if y'all suspect your child has appendicitis. Early diagnosis decreases risk of a ruptured appendix or serious complications.

Tummy hurting on the left side of the belly

If your child is complaining about pain on the left side of their tum, it could exist acquired by something as unproblematic as constipation to a more severe status like pancreatitis. Dr. Mehta reminds parents not to panic just considering their child is experiencing pain.

"Most of the fourth dimension, stomach hurting on the left side is acquired by something mild, like constipation. Rarely, it can be a sign of something more serious," she says. "Your child's pediatrician can work with you to better understand the pain and symptoms your child experiences to ensure they receive an accurate diagnosis – and more chiefly, find relief."

Stomach hurting in the upper abdomen

If your child is complaining most pain in their upper abdomen, they may be experiencing indigestion. Telltale signs of indigestion include:

• Hurting in the middle of the upper belly
• Nausea
• Bloating
• Burping
• Heartburn

"Indigestion may be the crusade, if your child complains well-nigh pain in their upper abdomen, peculiarly if it happens after eating certain foods," says Dr. Mehta.

If your child has hurting in the upper right side of their abdomen, this could also be a sign of gallstones. Gallstones are more common in adults than in children, but some children may be more than at hazard for developing gallstones including children with obesity, children with certain health weather condition including sickle cell affliction, and children with a family unit history of gallstone affliction.

What tin I requite my child for stomach pain?

Stomach pain usually resolves itself after your child:

• Rests
• Has a bowel movement
• Passes gas
• Recovers from a tum virus

There's no specific treatment for an upset stomach, but you lot can assist relieve your child'due south symptoms. Trusted home remedies for tummy pain in kids include:

• Offering plenty of clear liquids to keep your child hydrated
• Offering ibuprofen or acetaminophen to relieve pain
• Using a heating pad to ease cramps and hurting
• Offer a bland diet, like crackers and soups
• Giving your child stool softeners, like MiraLAX® to ease constipation (see other ways to foreclose and treat constipation in kids)
• Mixing a probiotic in your child's h2o, which may assist stop diarrhea

When should I take my kid to the md for tum pain?

Stomach pain in children is usually nothing to worry about. Only, if your child experiences whatever of the following symptoms, schedule an date with your child'due south pediatrician to make up one's mind the cause of your child's hurting:

• Constipation that is becoming frequent
• Recurrent stomach hurting with no articulate crusade
• Blood in stool
• Diarrhea
• Fever and coughing
• Pain when urinating
• Unexplained weight loss
• Looks or acts sick
• Pain that is waking your child upwards from sleep or is starting to touch on their daily lives
• Jaundice

Your child's pediatrician can help y'all determine if you need to seek firsthand medical attention.

When to get to the ER for stomach pain in kids

If your child experiences any of the post-obit symptoms with stomach pain, call 911 immediately or take your kid to the emergency room (ER):

• Severe pain in the breadbasket
• Loss of consciousness, fatigue or ill appearing
• Difficulty animate
• Dehydration
• Blood in vomit or dark-green-colored vomit

When kids have stomach aches, it can exist hard to pinpoint a crusade or if you should be concerned. A #pediatric GI expert from @Childrens addresses when to phone call the doctor.

Learn more

The Children's Health Pediatric Gastroenterology programme offers specialized, compassionate care to aid treat, manage and improve your kid's digestive health. Our team offers minimally invasive diagnostic techniques and the latest advances in care to assistance your child and family experience their all-time. When stomach pain in kids becomes a chronic issue, our Chronic Abdominal Pain Clinic offers help and hope.

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Source: https://www.childrens.com/health-wellness/stomach-pain-in-kids-when-to-worry

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