Chronic stomach pain in children: what is the most common cause?
The most common cause of chronic stomach pain in children is not something you can detect in a blood test, or treat with medication. This makes it difficult to diagnose and treat these pains.
You may not have heard of “functional abdominal pain” before. However; It ranks as the most common cause of stomach pain that lasts two months or more in children and teens.
Functional abdominal pain
The mind and body are intimately linked in ways we are still working to understand, and this is especially true of the mind and digestive system. stress can trigger; Especially chronic stress, depression and anxiety, to real, intense pain. Sometimes pain is the only symptom of stress, especially in children who are overachievers who are highly efficient or who tend to hide their emotions.
Sometimes, the cause of the pain is not stress, but the result of an infection or other disease, and it remains even after the disease is gone, and it may add additional pain to the disease during its treatment. Worrying about the pain and its possible cause can make matters worse, as the nervous system of the intestines can overwork.
Common symptoms of abdominal pain
Children with functional abdominal pain may have mild symptoms that appear occasionally, and they may have more severe symptoms that interfere with daily life.
In addition to stomachaches, children can experience nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea… or a combination of all of these. They may have a poor appetite or complain of feeling full very quickly.
Contact your doctor
When should you contact your child’s doctor? It is important to see a doctor if your child has chronic stomach pain. Your child will have to undergo a physical examination, and your doctor may want to run some tests, such as blood or stool tests, because there are many medical conditions that can cause chronic stomach pain.
It is especially important to contact your doctor if your child has:
* Weight loss.
* The presence of blood in the stool.
Severe pain.
Fever, rash, arthritis, or other signs of illness.
If your doctor finds that your child’s examination and tests are normal, and he is not losing weight, it is likely that your child has functional abdominal pain.
For some families, this diagnosis seems as if the doctors are saying that the problem lies in the child’s mind, or that what he feels is a figment of his imagination, but this is far from the truth; the pain is real; But it’s not happening because of something dangerous, which is good news in itself.
Help the sick child
How can you help a child with functional abdominal pain? There are many ways to help a child with functional abdominal pain once a diagnosis has been made. These methods include:
* Understanding and managing stressors in the child’s life, if any.
Medications recommended by your health care team can help with symptoms, such as laxatives for constipation.
* Cognitive behavioral therapy; A type of therapy that raises awareness of pain management strategies, as well as managing any stress or grief that could be among the causes.
* Meditation, yoga and other ways to help the child relax and train him to interact with his world.
For some children, a “low FODMAP diet” can help. (“FODMAPs” are short chain carbohydrates that are poorly absorbed in the small intestine and include: lactose, fructose, sorbitol, fructans, and galactose. “Wikipedia”).
* Probiotics, peppermint oil preparations, and other supplements are sometimes used to help soothe and prevent pain.
Most children with functional abdominal pain can receive care from a pediatrician. Regular visits to the doctor are a good idea to check and see how things are going and adjust any treatments. If things do not improve, a referral to a gastroenterologist can be helpful.
• «Harvard Health Blogs» – «Tribune Media» services
2023-08-30 16:28:02
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