Let's narrow down the cause and determine if your child need urgent care.
Or if it is something that can be taken care of at the local pharmacy with over-the-counter medications.
Then you can make the best decision on what to do.
Know that:
The severity of the stomach pain does not necessarily correlate to the magnitude of the problem causing the pain.
For instance pain caused by appendicitis is usually dull in the beginning.
Here is why:
Appendicitis usually start with:
Appendicitis usually start with:
Starting symptoms include:
Symptoms include:
Pressing on the right lower belly area increases the pain.
If you think your child may be looking at appendicitis from the questions so far, start heading to the emergency room.
If you are sure you are NOT looking at appendicitis, let's continue.
Be sure to take a look at the "FYI" before continuing
The appendix is a small pouch attached to the beginning of your large intestine and appendicitis is swelling or inflammation of the appendix caused by infection or fecal matter blockade.
With appendicitis, symptoms would often start with:
As the swelling in the appendix increases, in 12 to 24 hours after the start of the illness:
If your appendix ruptures:
Well, we don't need to tell you that if you are nodding your head to any of these, that this is a
medical emergency
and you need to get to the hospital now.
Symptoms include:
Symptoms include:
Symptoms include:
If you nodded your head to the discussions so far, you should start heading to the nearest emergency room with the child.
If that is not the case, we can continue. Be sure to see the "FYI" for good information.
Gallstones may be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball. They form inside the gallbladder
These stones are often found during a routine x-ray, abdominal surgery, or other medical procedure. But, if a large stone blocks either the cystic or common bile duct (called choledocholithiasis), you may have a cramping pain in the middle to right upper abdomen.
The pain goes away if the stone passes into the first part of the small intestine (the duodenum). Else, you will need surgery as soon as possible if not right away.
If you have these symptoms, you should seek urgent or emergency care if the pain is very severe:
Symptoms include:
Symptoms include:
Symptoms include:
Symptoms include:
If you've nodded your head to any of these symptoms, we suggest you take the child to the nearest hospital.
Would you like to do that now or continue if you don't think it is a kidney stone situation?
Be sure to take a look at "FYI" for a brief summary of what to expect with kidney stones.
Kidney stone's stomach pain include:
Severe pain that:
Also severe pain with
Here is why:
If you touch parts of the belly and your child feel pain in that part or the area feels tender, we consider this a medical emergency.
If it is followed by diarrhea, then it is due to gas or bloating. Your child may be suffering from lactose intolerance or food allergies.
If it lasts more than 24 hours or there is fever, then he or she will need to seek urgent care.
If it gets more severe, the intestines might be blocked.
Here is why:
Here is why:
Here is why:
If it travels to:
Some will require emergency care, others urgent care while others are due to minor stomach discomfort.
Bottom line:
If your child is writhing around with severe pain trying to find the best comfortable position, you should start heading to the emergency room or seek urgent care.
Especially if it started suddenly and you know he or she didn't eat anything bad or does not have gas problems.
If you are convinced the stomach pain is not life threatening or does not require urgent care, let's see what a pharmacist recommend your child take to relieve the pain that is available over-the-counter.