Tummy Troubles

Less common causes of chronic abdominal pain in children include the following:

·             stomach and intestinal (gut) issues such as heartburn and ulcers

·             lactose intolerance or other food sensitivities, including celiac disease, which is triggered by foods containing gluten

·             muscle strain in the abdomen

·             inflammatory bowel disease, which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis

When should you consult professional advice?

Check in with your doctor if your child is having ongoing or frequently recurring stomach pain, especially “if they are unwell enough to be missing school, need pain medicine regularly, aren’t able to sleep at night, or aren’t able to eat or drink properly,” Kulik says.

Additionally, be on the lookout for these other warning signs in your child:

·             severe or sharp abdominal pain

·             weight loss

·             blood in stool

·             fever, rash, sore joints, or other signs of illness

Your doctor will ask about your child’s symptoms and do a physical examination, and may want to run blood, stool, or imaging tests.

It could be stress-related pain

If the exam and tests are normal, with no concerning symptoms, such as weight loss, your child may have “functional abdominal pain,” a term used for pain without an identifiable cause.

That doesn’t mean the pain isn’t real. It is very real—but it’s not caused by something life threatening.

Scientists think functional abdominal pain may occur when the gut becomes more sensitive to triggers that don’t usually cause much pain, such as indigestion, bloating, or even stress. This type of abdominal pain occurs in about one in seven children, and is more common in girls and in children dealing with anxiety or stress.

“A lot of kids with anxiety or emotional challenges have chronic abdominal pain,” Kulik says, “even though it’s not something we would see during a physical examination or with medical tests.”

This kind of pain may be concentrated around the belly button, encompass the whole abdomen, or change locations. The pain may be present most of the time, or increase and decrease in severity. Other symptoms can occur too, such as nausea, dizziness, headache, and fatigue.

Help your child find relief

For constipation, “increasing water and fibre in the diet can be helpful,” Kulik says. Fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and beans and legumes all contain plentiful fibre.

However, unless your child has a history of constipation, Kulik recommends they still be assessed by a doctor, because “there might be something else going on.”

Treatment for functional abdominal pain will be tailored to your child’s needs and situation. A key goal is helping them return to their routines, such as going to school, playing with friends, and eating regular foods.

Another goal is helping kids cope with the pain and the stressors that trigger it; something like yoga and meditation may help.

Your doctor may also recommend your child see “a mental health care provider, like a psychologist, who can assess them to provide the best kind of treatment plan,” says Kulik. “That might involve cognitive behavioural therapy or family therapy.”

Natural remedies like peppermint oil may lessen muscle spasms in the gut. And probiotics, which contain “friendly bacteria,” may reduce pain in children with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). There are different types of probiotics, so talk to your child’s doctor before trying these.

What about preventing stress-related stomach aches? “Having close individuals we can talk to and a social network, and getting enough sleep and physical activity—all these are helpful for maintaining kids’ mental health,” Kulik says.

Relieving teas and more

These kid-friendly drinks and supplements can soothe sore tummies, no matter what age:

·             gingerroot or tea for upset stomach, nausea, and vomiting

·             peppermint oil or tea for cramping, as with IBS

·             chamomile tea for upset stomach and diarrhea

·             electrolyte drinks for replacing fluids lost through vomiting and diarrhea

·             probiotic-rich yogurt, kefir, or supplements for abdominal pain, as with IBS

·             bone broth, with its anti-inflammatory properties, for digestive conditions like IBS and ulcerative colitis

Brain in your gut

Hidden in the walls of your gastrointestinal tract are millions of nerve cells. This little “brain in the gut,” aka enteric nervous system, communicates back and forth with the big brain in your head. Scientists think this may help explain why emotional shifts can lead to symptoms like diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, and stomach upset.

This article was originally published in the August 2024 issue of alive magazine.