Belly Pain

The most typical belly pain that children experience is a vague waxing and waning discomfort in the middle of the abdomen. In general, it’s caused by stomach bugs, indigestion, or constipation. Serious belly pain, the most feared being appendicitis, is rare and intense. Certain signs will help you distinguish mild pain from other twinges.

If your child exhibits any of the above, a doctor should evaluate him immediately.

For mild belly pain, you can give Jimmy a regular painkiller, such as acetaminophen, but don’t give it too often; if you mask the symptoms, you may not get an accurate sense of the severity and duration of the pain. Other over-the-counter medications such as antacids have no real benefits in most cases of belly pain, since kids are rarely subject to hyperacidity.

“Belly Pains in the Head”
Belly pains in kids often originate in their heads, and for some reason are more common in school-age girls. You can recognize these mental belly pains if the child vaguely points to her navel but is otherwise in perfect health and shows no other signs of ill health (such as vomiting or diarrhea). Invariably, if you give the allegedly sore tummy a little rubbing and cuddling in response, the next time your girl is looking for a little attention she’ll tell you her belly suddenly hurts again. As soon as you decrease the therapeutic pampering, these aches will magically disappear.