What to give a child for stomach relief. What to do if a child has severe stomach pain, what medications can be given: a review of medications and home remedies. What to do if a child complains of severe abdominal pain

Many parents worry if their baby begins to have severe abdominal pain. Pain syndrome manifests itself in different ways, because its appearance is associated with various abnormalities. You cannot ignore discomfort. Self-treatment is not advisable. To begin with, it is recommended to understand what causes tummy pain in a child. After this, it is allowed to eliminate the provoking factor.

Why can a child's stomach hurt?

As already noted, pain comes in different forms. Sometimes it poses a significant threat to the child’s life.

One of the most dangerous situations is pancreatitis or peritonitis. The discomfort manifests itself so clearly that the child tries to lie down. Any movement leads to increased pain. At the same time, poor health leads to increased body temperature and severe vomiting. The abdominal muscles are constantly tense. In such situations, you should not give your baby painkillers until the doctor arrives. Any pills taken to make you feel better will not allow the doctor to correctly determine the cause of the illness.

Often the pain syndrome is caused by the appendix (an extension of the cecum). Its inflammation begins after the ingestion and accumulation of food that cannot be digested. Many children over six years of age have experienced appendicitis, but the risk cannot be excluded even in a very young child.

Self-diagnosis of inflammation of the appendix in the early stages turns out to be an extremely difficult undertaking, since pain in the lower abdomen on the right side does not always make itself felt. Discomfort is noted even in the upper left or in the navel area. Over time, the pain syndrome becomes more pronounced.

At the same time, the baby faces a high temperature. The child ceases to show interest in activities, games, and food. A bad signal is the onset of vomiting, indicating a deterioration in health. Slowing down is unacceptable, so you cannot do without the help of a doctor.

Symptoms of diarrhea in babies:

  • abdominal cramps;
  • loose stools, which may contain bloody and mucous discharge;
  • nausea and vomiting;
  • fever or chills;
  • Strong headache.

You need to remember: constipation often leads to noticeable pain (usually in the stomach area). If a child does not go to the toilet for several days, you need to sound the alarm. No less pleasant is the situation when the baby suffers from dry and hard stool. Attempts to go to the toilet lead to pain and blood in the stool.

Worms are another cause of frequent abdominal pain in children. This disease is accompanied by loss of appetite and severe vomiting. At night the child suffers from insomnia. If the baby falls asleep, parents hear the creak of his teeth. In some cases, worms (worms) appear in the feces.

Poisoning usually appears unexpectedly. If a child complains of sudden and severe abdominal pain, nausea, or loose stools, it is recommended to pay special attention to his well-being. If there is confidence in poisoning, the baby needs to empty the stomach.

To do this, induce vomiting, which can be repeated. To eliminate the risk of dehydration and reduce stress on the stomach, the baby is given boiled water. You need to drink little and often.

An emotional state can provoke severe abdominal pain in a baby. In such situations, the presence of any of the above diseases is not necessary. Fear causes abdominal cramps. The pain is considered neurotic.

If examinations do not reveal any disorders or diseases, the pain remains unexplained. You can guess: the child is pretending. In this case, it is recommended to consult a psychologist or neurologist.

Tummy pain in children occurs for various reasons. Most often it is caused by the following diseases:

  • gastrointestinal tract infections;
  • appendicitis;
  • inguinal hernia;
  • hepatitis;
  • pancreatitis.

If your baby suffers from constant abdominal pain and is getting worse, you should not self-medicate. The only way to help the baby is to consult a doctor in a timely manner. Eliminating unpleasant symptoms becomes a secondary task, because initially you need to get rid of the source that leads to a deterioration in well-being. Only after an examination the doctor has the right to make the correct diagnosis and begin appropriate treatment.

How to treat abdominal pain in a child

Most often, parents are able to independently eliminate abdominal pain in their baby. Efficiency is observed in the absence of severe pain and other serious symptoms (fever, vomiting). Mild discomfort is due to excessive gas formation. Relief occurs within a few hours after the child visits the toilet.

In such a situation, parents can help the baby on their own, so calling a doctor is no longer necessary.

The child needs to be calmed and fed with light, liquid food. Without instructions from a doctor, you should not give painkillers, laxatives, or give an enema. Your health should improve after your baby has had a bowel movement and released gas.

If constant constipation leads to tummy pain, it is recommended to adjust your diet. It is advisable to give your baby fresh vegetables, salad, apples, apricots.

Neurotic pain in the tummy is relieved with the help of valerian or motherwort. Before going to bed, it is recommended to drink warm milk with the addition of natural honey (if you are not allergic).

To eliminate psychological stress that can cause discomfort, you need to take more walks with your baby. In addition, it will be useful to avoid frequent television viewing and long computer games before bedtime.

A contrast shower helps normalize the emotional state. At the same time, with such a disease, one cannot do without consulting a doctor and increased monitoring of the baby’s condition, because new manifestations of symptoms may indicate another disease.

Medicines for abdominal pain in children

The classic option for eliminating abdominal pain not only in adults, but also in children is myotropic antispasmodics. Despite the complex and unusual name, the drugs can be found in any home. For example, No-Shpa deserves attention. Such drugs relax the smooth muscles of the intestine, ensuring relief from spasm. As a result, the pain syndrome goes away.

No-Shpa (Drotaverine)

Among the most popular and effective drugs prescribed to children is No-Shpa. The medicine has been around for many decades, but the trust of millions of doctors and patients contributes to its continued use. No-Shpa is allowed even for children and pregnant women, because there are practically no side effects.

No-Shpa helps in the following situations:

  • poisoning;
  • acute intestinal infections;
  • binge eating;
  • food allergies;
  • surgical pathologies of the abdominal organs.

The drug can be taken from the age of six. The most important task is to strictly follow the instructions for use.

No-Shpa is not recommended for children suffering from heart defects, severe circulatory failure, kidney and liver diseases. The tablets should not be used if you are intolerant to lactose or galactose. In this case, it is recommended to pay attention to other drugs.

Other antispasmodics

Sometimes No-Shpa is replaced by Papaverine, which is also a myotropic antispasmodic. In terms of its effectiveness, Papaverine is at the same level as Drotaverine. The drugs have approximately the same range of side effects and the list of situations when they can be useful. For children, Papaverine is allowed from six months.

Mebeverine (used for the drugs Sparex, Niaspam, Duspatalin) has a powerful antispasmodic and analgesic effect. The product successfully copes with any colic and does not have strict contraindications or severe side effects. In children, tablets based on Mebeverine are prescribed from the age of 12.

Medicines for abdominal pain in a child due to poisoning

Diarrhea and poisoning

Diarrhea often occurs in children under five years of age. The disease is caused by “intestinal” flu or gastroenteritis. A dangerous consequence of diarrhea is dehydration of the child’s body, from which the baby must be protected.

Main symptoms:

  • esophageal spasms;
  • diarrhea (sometimes with blood, mucus or plain water);
  • pungent odor of feces (dysentery may be suspected);
  • vomiting (sometimes accompanied by green-yellow water);
  • chills or fever;
  • Strong headache.

A child in this condition needs plenty of fluids. Weak tea and plain water will do.

It is advisable to give bananas as fruit, because they have a “fixing” effect.

A clear sign of stomach or intestinal bleeding is red or very dark stool. In this case, it is recommended to call emergency help, since you will not be able to correct the situation on your own.

Poisoning is manifested by pain in the tummy, vomiting, heat, loose stools with mucus. In such a situation, it is advisable for the baby to vomit repeatedly, since only this will make him feel better. You cannot do without “rinsing” the stomach with boiled water.

Diarrhea and poisoning are cases when you can try to improve your baby’s well-being on your own. It is important to remember that diarrhea and vomiting help remove water from the body. In this case, sodium, chlorine and potassium salts are lost. The primary task is to restore the water-salt balance. To do this, use gastrolit or rehydron, which are diluted in boiled water according to the instructions of the drug.

It is allowed to use activated carbon or a product based on it - Polysorb, a sorbent for absorbing harmful substances Enterosgel.

Treatment should not be completed by taking the above medications. After first aid, you will need to consult a doctor.

Abdominal pain in children in the navel area: what medications to give

Even if a baby’s abdominal pain is localized in the navel area (the most common option), a doctor must be called. Without the help of a specialist, it will not be possible to take maximum care of the child, and the risk of deterioration in health will still remain.

If the pain is caused by indigestion, you should reconsider the diet of the baby or his mother. You need to remember: the mother’s menu affects the baby’s condition if the baby is fed breast milk.

At the very beginning, foods that cause fermentation in the stomach and intestines are excluded from the diet. Vegetables and fruits are thoroughly processed before consumption. Fatty and fried foods are prohibited.

If stomach pain is a manifestation of diarrhea, in the first few hours the baby should be switched to a drinking diet. Subsequently, it is allowed to give soft porridges, lean soups, and light chicken broth.

If the baby has impaired intestinal motility, a light massage is recommended to alleviate the health condition. To normalize the functioning of the intestines, the drug Acipol with live bacteria is also prescribed.

If colic and increased gas formation lead to pain, it is recommended to take Linex, Riabal, Espumisan.

For constipation, children are given mild laxatives Gutalax, Duphalac, Forlax and glycerin suppositories.

In isolated cases, Smecta is prescribed, diluted with boiled water. This solution is given within half an hour. Improved intestinal motility is guaranteed.

Unauthorized diagnosis with further self-medication of the baby is not the right approach.

The only advice is to stop self-medicating your child. Even drugs that initially seem harmless can only be prescribed by a doctor. Strict adherence to the dosage, taking into account the age of the baby, is a mandatory aspect. Self-medication harms the baby’s health, reduces immunity, and increases the body’s susceptibility to infections and diseases.

The child has a stomach ache: Komarovsky

When a baby gets sick, the whole family begins to worry. At the first manifestations of the disease, you should immediately contact a specialist. But mothers are advised to know the main causes of nausea and methods of treatment.

Nausea in a child is a consequence of a variety of reasons. This unpleasant condition does not always manifest itself from poisoning, as most parents think. In this article we will find out why a child feels sick, what it depends on, what causes the illness and how to help the baby after the first symptoms appear.

Causes

The reasons for the feeling of nausea are different. They can be caused by poisoning, overeating or stress. Before starting treatment, it is necessary to identify what caused the formation of this disease. The causes may be common or situational.

Common Causes

Food poisoning. It can be caused by eating low-quality or expired food. Food that has not been stored properly contains pathogenic microorganisms. When they enter the gastrointestinal tract, they begin to negatively affect and form toxins. Very often, nausea manifests itself very sharply, 3-4 hours after eating. The baby begins to feel unwell and slightly dizzy. First, nausea appears, then vomiting and diarrhea. In most cases, nausea in a child is accompanied by an increase in body temperature to 37-38°C. Intestinal infections. At the moment, a very large number of intestinal pathogens are known. These include salmonella, E. coli, staphylococcus, and rotaviruses. Sources of infection are animals or sick adults. A baby can transfer infection to his body from a carrier through toys, household items, drinking water, and food. At the first stage of the disease, symptoms are minor. But the baby has slight dizziness, lethargy, and general weakness. Once tired, the child may become moody, overexcited, or irritable. Only after this does nausea and vomiting appear. Then pain in the stomach, bloating, and increased gas formation in the intestines occur. Undigested food particles remain in the stool and vomit. Diarrhea forms, body temperature rises to 37.5°C. In rare and very severe cases, vomiting of bile and fever up to 40° may occur. The course of the disease depends on the type of infection. Acute infections. These types of infections are not associated with the digestive system. The main symptoms include vomiting, nausea, dizziness, and a slight increase in temperature up to 37°C. The manifestation of such symptoms occurs in severe stages of the disease. Pathologies usually include pneumonia, various forms of influenza, acute respiratory viral infections, and pyelonephritis. The main difference between acute infections and intestinal infections is the preservation of stool in an unchanged state. Children do not develop diarrhea or diarrhea. Vomiting of bile is excluded.

Situational reasons

Nausea associated with traveling in public transport. This condition manifests itself due to disorientation in space. There is a disruption in the functioning of the inner ear. When your body position changes, signals are sent to the brain. Based on the information received, the body's balance is disrupted. Shaking, chaotic traffic movements and changes in speed lead to a malfunction, which manifests itself in the form of nausea. In most cases, the causes of motion sickness lie in the child’s poor health. Before the trip, doctors recommend avoiding eating too fatty, overcooked and heavy foods, which can aggravate the feeling of nausea. It is recommended to eat a green apple or pickled cucumber. You can drink herbal tea made from mint or lemon balm. Foreign body in the stomach. When a foreign object is in the body, it is called a foreign body. It can enter a child's body by ingestion or inhalation. In rare cases, objects are introduced during surgery or penetrating wounds. After the object hits the baby, nausea and vomiting begin. Such symptoms appear within a few minutes. Complications may include vomiting bile, bleeding, perforation of the stomach wall, difficulty breathing, and dizziness. Surgical pathologies of the digestive tract. Nausea may be one of the signs of acute inflammation of appendicitis. The organ is located in the lower abdomen. When inflammation occurs in this area, sharp, unbearable pain occurs. Symptoms may include dizziness, diarrhea, and an increase in body temperature up to 38°C. Diseases that affect the central nervous system. Very serious and dangerous diseases include encephalitis or meningitis. The main symptom of such diseases is nausea. It is worth considering that vomiting does not bring the desired relief. The general condition of the child is disturbed. There is weakness and dizziness. Often there is no appetite at all. The baby becomes whiny and capricious. There is a decrease in motor activity. Photophobia and headaches begin. There may be sudden screams. In severe stages of the disease, vomiting of bile, loss of consciousness, and complete refusal of food and water are observed. The child begins to have seizures. The temperature rises to 40°C. Nausea after vigorous activity. This condition may occur after active games or sports. The child feels sick after playing football, hockey, ice skating, running, or doing pull-ups on the horizontal bar. When a child is prone to this type of nausea, it is necessary to limit sports activities or physical activity. It is necessary for the baby to drink more water. Nausea in the morning. If a child feels sick in the morning, then this manifestation indicates hunger. The feeling of nausea can be completely eliminated simply by having breakfast. You can give your baby fresh fruits, dairy products or infusions of medicinal herbs. Also, nausea in the morning can indicate intracranial pressure. Therefore, if the feeling of nausea does not go away after a hearty breakfast, then a neurologist will be able to determine the true cause of this manifestation. Nausea after severe nervous tension. Very often, nausea occurs after a nervous breakdown. The emotional state is affected by a change of situation, a quarrel, a fight. In this case, the child must be provided with moral support. This nausea does not last long. You can give your baby sedatives or brewed herbal teas. You can make decoctions from rose hips, cones, and currant leaves.

Combinations with other symptoms

Nausea and fever may indicate the presence of intestinal obstruction, indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, or acute appendicitis. Nausea and headache indicate increased intracranial pressure, migraine, fatigue, stress, brain tumor, meningitis, borreliosis. Nausea and diarrhea indicate the presence of toxic substances in the child's body. This manifestation may be a consequence of overeating and consumption of heavy foods. It may also indicate the presence of cancer, stressful situations, allergies or intolerance to certain foods. Nausea and dizziness indicate labyrinitis, cervical osteochondrosis, vestibular neuritis, Meniere's disease, head injuries, and pathology of the eye muscles. May be a consequence of taking medications or stressful situations. Bile nausea indicates liver disease, bile reflex, gallbladder or bile duct disease. Nausea with bile indicates an acute form of pancreatitis, cyclic vomiting syndrome, and small intestinal obstruction.

What to do?

It is necessary to take any action after the first symptoms appear only after the causes of the illness have been identified. Self-medication is not recommended. Incorrect diagnosis and self-treatment at home can cause side effects. You cannot risk the health and life of a child. Parents need to contact a professional specialist. Only after consulting a doctor can you perform the following steps.

First aid

If a child is vomiting, the first thing you need to do is call an ambulance. The child is then placed on his side. You should not place your baby on his back, as in this case there is a risk that he may choke on vomit. You can give your baby decoctions of medicinal herbs. Mint, lemon balm, fireweed, and field chamomile are perfect. They will help prevent dehydration. Newborns and babies under one year of age can be given two teaspoons of liquid every 5-15 minutes. Small children from one to three years old can be given four teaspoons of liquid at identical intervals. Older children are given two to four tablespoons. When the baby’s condition is assessed and there is no threat to life, gastric lavage can be done after taking the liquid. Children can be given medications that eliminate the disease and improve the general condition of the child. But in order to relieve the first symptoms, you need to consult a specialist. When the baby’s condition worsens, there is blood in the vomit or the baby is vomiting bile, it is necessary to urgently take the child to the hospital without waiting for an ambulance. Often the medical team does not arrive on time. And delay can cause not only side effects, but also death.

In what cases should you call an ambulance?

It is mandatory to call an ambulance for children under three years old; A doctor is called if the child is nauseous for a long period; Consultation with a specialist is necessary if the baby vomits bile; If during feeding the body does not accept food and intake, responding with a gag reflex; If the baby has chills, dizziness, convulsions, severe headaches; If there are blood clots in the vomit; If the child’s body is severely dehydrated;

Treatment

Treatment and elimination of nausea depends on the diagnosis.

First, it is necessary to identify the cause of the disease, and then begin treatment.

If you eat low-quality food and experience the first symptoms of poisoning, it is recommended to do gastric lavage. To do this, use solutions of soda or potassium permanganate. It is important to start doing gastric lavage before toxins begin to be absorbed into the blood. Otherwise, serious side effects will be detected. Children can use Smecta. The active action of this drug occurs in the intestines. The use of dill water is allowed as a folk remedy. One tablespoon of dill seeds is poured into two glasses of boiling water. Leave for 15 minutes. Consume one tablespoon three times a day. It is also allowed to make lemon water with the addition of lemon, orange or tangerine zest. In the presence of intestinal infections, the main symptom is dehydration. The child may feel a lack of fluid in the vascular system. Therefore, it is necessary to replenish fluid as soon as possible. Babies are given it during feeding, older children consume water in 2-3 doses per hour. As a treatment, you can do gastric lavage with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Infusion therapy may be prescribed, which includes the administration of medicinal solutions intravenously. The use of antibiotics is permitted. Cephabol or Claforan are perfect. As a traditional medicine, children can be given a decoction made from calamus root. The product not only relieves dizziness, nausea, and stomach cramps, but also eliminates infectious agents. 10 grams of crushed roots are poured into two glasses of boiling water. Then simmer over low heat for 10-15 minutes. Then the broth is filtered and taken up to six times a day. You can make lotions from the product and use it to wash wounds. Acute infections have a short incubation period. Therefore, the longer treatment is delayed, the more difficult it will be to cure the baby. When the first symptoms appear, it is recommended to immediately consult a specialist. The doctor may prescribe medication and physical therapy. Patients need to follow a diet that promotes the fastest possible recovery of the body after illness. It is necessary to consume large amounts of vitamins and beneficial microelements. Activated carbon and Enterosgel for children are allowed to be used as medications. Oak bark can be used as a folk remedy. It is poured with one liter of boiling water and simmered over low heat for ten minutes. Strain and consume up to six times a day. The decoction eliminates dizziness, nausea, and the feeling of vomiting.

If it comes to vomiting or there is a suspicion of this, then be sure to watch this video

Preventive actions

To prevent nausea, you must:

Avoid eating expired, low-quality food; It is necessary to do heat treatment of kitchen equipment; Medicines should be taken strictly according to the instructions; When experiencing motion sickness in transport, it is recommended to take appropriate medications. For example, Relanium, Medazipam, Prazepam; It is recommended to stay in smoky rooms as little as possible; You should walk more often and be in the fresh air, do exercises; You need to sleep at least eight hours a day; You should make a proper diet. When feeding newborns, dishes must be subjected to heat treatment;

Nausea is an unpleasant symptom that occurs due to various situations. If a child is sick, then first of all it is necessary to identify the cause of the illness. If the baby’s condition worsens, you should contact a professional specialist. In simple cases, you can use folk recipes.

It must be remembered that preventing nausea is easier than treating it.

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Nausea in a child can be caused by a number of reasons. Most often, this condition is caused by problems with the digestive system. However, there may be other reasons. If a child is vomiting, what should you do in this situation? Let's find out from our article.

Poisoning

Poisoning, as a rule, occurs after a child eats low-quality food containing substances harmful to the body. If a child is sick, what should you do in this situation? Doctors recommend drinking more in case of poisoning to prevent dehydration. Liquid should enter the body often, but in small quantities. If this condition is not accompanied by temperature and other dangerous factors, sorbents can be given (Polysorb, Enterosgel, Atoxil, Smecta, activated carbon). If possible, before using these drugs you should rinse the stomach or induce vomiting (by pressing on the root of the tongue).

Poisoning, accompanied by fever, continuous vomiting and diarrhea, requires immediate medical attention. In this case, there is a possibility of an intestinal infection and the development of severe dehydration.

Binge eating

Did your baby feel nauseous immediately after eating? Perhaps he overate or tasted too much fatty food. At an early age, the baby’s body is not yet able to cope with such food. If this is the reason, then the nausea will be short-term and one-time. In this case, the child should be given complete rest, freeing the body from excess clothing. To restore bowel function, you can stroke your tummy clockwise.

If a child is sick, what to do in this situation? Doctors recommend giving a quarter of a tablet of Festal, Mezima or half a teaspoon of Almagel. Before taking, be sure to read the instructions so as not to harm your baby even more.

Intestinal infection

And if a child feels sick and has a stomach ache, what should you do in this situation? There may be an intestinal infection here. This condition is caused by the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the gastrointestinal tract, which begin to rapidly multiply and impede the work of other important bacteria. This disease is accompanied by the following symptoms:

morning sickness; vomiting; abdominal pain; diarrhea; fever; loss of strength; chills.

Treatment is carried out exclusively under the supervision of a doctor, depending on the type of bacteria. It is not recommended to fight the disease on your own due to the high likelihood of developing severe dehydration.

Motion sickness

What to do if your child feels sick during a long trip? This indicates weakness of the vestibular apparatus. In this case, you should quickly take the baby out into the fresh air. This will help him bounce back faster.

Avoid overeating before your trip. On the road, be sure to take a couple of lemon slices or a sour apple. In this case, drinking heavily is not recommended. It is better to give liquid in small portions. If possible, give your child a seat in the front of the vehicle so that he or she can see the road through the windshield.

Neurological diseases

If a child feels sick and vomits - what to do? As a rule, neurological diseases are accompanied by nausea in the morning, repeated vomiting, high body temperature, severe headache and even convulsions.

This condition is considered serious and requires immediate medical attention.

Increased intracranial pressure

What should you do if your child feels nauseous and has a high body temperature, a severe headache and uncontrollable vomiting? Such symptoms may indicate increased intracranial pressure. As a rule, this condition occurs due to head injury, inflammation in the brain, bleeding, or tumor.

If you experience the above symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Appendicitis

Acute appendicitis can also occur if a child vomits? What to do in this situation? First, you need to figure out whether this disease really caused the nausea. Acute pain in the right and central parts of the lower abdomen, constant vomiting, fever - all these signs are characteristic of the presence of appendicitis. This disease requires urgent surgical intervention.

Penetration of a foreign body into the stomach

A child at this age tries to taste everything by heart, so often some object ends up in the stomach. What to do if a child feels sick for this very reason? When swallowing a large object, discomfort most often occurs. This occurs due to spasm of the smooth muscles of the stomach.

In this case, the baby begins to vomit undigested food with mucus or blood. Sometimes rapid breathing and excessive salivation may occur. If you notice such symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor. Waiting in this case, much less self-medicating, is categorically not recommended.

In addition to other causes, nausea in a child can also occur with:

stress; developing dehydration; panic; allergies; taking medications, antibiotics; Gilbert's syndrome, etc.

What to do if a child is vomiting?

If nausea is not accompanied by other symptoms, then you can do it on your own. If you are sure that the baby has been poisoned by poor-quality food, then in this case you should empty the stomach of unnecessary contents. To do this, give the child plenty of warm boiled water and press on the root of the tongue. When the stomach is completely empty, give the sorbent.

It should be noted that the room should be cool. Warm and dry air makes the situation much worse. Under no circumstances should overheating be allowed.

You should not try to feed your child after an attack of nausea. On the first day, especially after poisoning, it is better not to give him food at all (if you really want it, a cracker) - just give him something to drink. Water must be purified and still.

What to do if a child is sick? Mild herbal decoctions will also help relieve an attack. In this case, chamomile and mint are considered the most effective. A teaspoon of herb should be brewed with a glass of boiling water and left for half an hour. It should be noted that this method is well suited if a child (2 years old) is vomiting. What to do if the child is younger? For this situation, children's stores and pharmacies sell special teas intended for the appropriate age.

As for anti-nausea drugs, such as Metoclopramide, Cerucal, they only relieve attacks, but do not treat the very cause of this condition. Moreover, some drugs are contraindicated for small children and doctors do not recommend giving them on their own.

Conclusion

If a child feels sick and vomits, what should I do? Many parents ask these questions. Doctors recommend not to self-medicate, but to urgently consult a specialist who will make a timely diagnosis and prescribe the correct treatment.

Nausea in a child can be caused by several factors. In 95% of cases, these are malfunctions of the digestive organs. Less commonly, nausea occurs with damage to the central nervous system. According to the nature of the course, the child’s condition can be satisfactory with mild malaise, moderate with additional symptoms (fever) and severe (the child is in a semi-conscious state). What to do if a child is sick, what ways are there to help at home?

Symptoms of the pathological condition

Nausea is not a disease. This is a symptom that accompanies diseases or damage to internal organs and systems.


The main sign of nausea is discomfort and unpleasant sensations in the stomach, which children endure painfully.
. The condition spreads through the upper parts of the digestive system - the esophagus, pharynx. There is a feeling of a lump in the throat, a false urge to vomit without vomiting.

Against the background of nausea, the child experiences a deterioration in general health. Weakness develops, physical activity decreases, and headache appears. The desire to vomit only worsens the condition, since the absence of vomiting does not bring relief.

Nausea in children may be accompanied by additional pathological signs:

digestive system - vomiting, diarrhea, increased salivation, pain in the epigastric region; nervous system - darkening of the eyes, dizziness, drowsiness, rapid breathing and pulse, shallow breathing, feeling of lack of air; symptoms of intoxication - weakness, increased sweating (especially in infants), hot flashes, clammy and cold skin, a slight increase in temperature, and in children of the first year of life, weight loss.

How do you understand when a child who cannot yet explain his condition is vomiting? The baby is constantly naughty and refuses to eat. The general condition is restless, periodically there is causeless crying, during which the baby sweats intensely. At the same time, the arms and legs are cold to the touch.

Causes of nausea in children

If the intensity of nausea is insignificant and the child’s overall condition is normal, this is a functional disorder of the digestive system. The reason is nutritional errors:

systematic overeating; products that do not correspond to the age category; low-quality infant formula; improper introduction of complementary foods; heavy food - fatty, fried, smoked, salted, pickled, excess seasonings and spices; violation of feeding regime; consumption of exotic dishes and products.

Functional disorders that cause nausea are associated with the immaturity of the child's body. This condition occurs as a result of a lack of pancreatic enzymes and insufficient flow of bile into the duodenum.

The second most common cause is food poisoning or acute intestinal infection. In these cases, nausea and vomiting in the child are the main symptoms. Their intensity and nature determine the degree of damage to the gastrointestinal tract. Pathology develops as a result of the ingestion of spoiled products contaminated with bacteria (staphylococci, streptococci, dysentery). Food poisoning is not always accompanied by an intestinal infection and differs from it in that the child does not have a high fever, excessive repeated vomiting or diarrhea, dehydration and severe intoxication of the body.

Other causes of nausea in a child:

Nausea as a side effect when taking medications. Weak vestibular apparatus, which is normal for children. Nausea in children occurs when traveling by car or on public transport (motion sickness). It can also occur with a sudden change in body position if the child is weakened during a long illness. Long-term therapeutic diet. Brain injuries - bruise, concussion, compression. A common cause in children of preschool and primary school age is sunstroke or heatstroke. Internal diseases - gastritis, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, dyskinesia (obstruction) of the bile ducts, malignant tumors, ARVI. Entry of a foreign body into the stomach.

First aid for a child with symptoms of nausea

Diagnostics, First aid tactics and symptom management depend on the types of nausea, which are classified according to their origin:

Reflex – after eating. Toxic – as a result of exposure to poisons, toxic substances, pathogenic microorganisms. Vestibular – disruption of the vestibular apparatus (responsible for coordination of movements). Brain – for somatic and infectious diseases of the brain. Metabolic – metabolic disorder, vitamin deficiency.

General principles of first aid

If the child is over 2 years old and feels relatively normal, you can cope with nausea on your own. The baby needs to call a pediatrician at home for inspection and recommendations on further actions. If the child’s condition is serious, accompanied by additional symptoms (the child begins to vomit) and rapidly worsens, it is necessary to call an ambulance, regardless of the age of the victim.

Put the baby to bed and free him from tight clothes. Wipe the skin of the face, neck, chest, hands with a towel dipped in warm or cool water. If the child is worried about chills, cover him with a warm blanket or blanket. During nausea, there is no need to force the child to eat something. The products will irritate the mucous membranes and increase discomfort.

If nausea occurs after eating, you can try to induce artificial vomiting. This will significantly improve the child's condition. To do this, let the child drink 1-2 glasses of water for a short time, sit him on a chair, then press on the root of the tongue with two or one finger (depending on the child’s age) and provoke a gag reflex. This procedure should not be performed on infants, as there is a high risk of vomit entering the respiratory tract.

Parental tactics for dealing with certain types of nausea

Treatment directly depends on the cause of nausea. The first action is to eliminate the provoking factor.:

refusal to eat; drug withdrawal; removing warm clothes; stopping exposure to the sun; stopping and exiting the vehicle for fresh air.

Binge eating

Nausea occurs due to insufficient breakdown of food into proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Therefore, the child needs to be given enzymes. These drugs are of natural origin, safe for the health of children, and do not have serious side effects. They improve digestion and absorption of nutrients.

The drugs are available in tablets and capsules. The tablets are coated with a special coating that does not dissolve in the stomach. This is necessary for the enzymes to enter the duodenum. Only in this case will they be effective. Therefore, you should not bite or crush the tablets.

Pancreatic preparations:

Pancreatin. Mezim. Festal. Pancreol. Enzistal.

Children who cannot swallow a pill on their own are given the drug Creon. It is available in capsules, the contents of which are small granules coated with a coating insoluble in gastric juice. The drug can be given with milk, formula and any other food.

You can give your child antacids for nausea without vomiting.. They gently envelop the walls of the stomach, relieve irritation of the mucous membrane, and reduce acidity. Antacids relieve symptoms such as heartburn, a feeling of bitterness in the mouth, and abdominal discomfort. Most drugs are available in the form of a suspension or powder for its preparation, less often in tablets.

List of drugs:

Almagel. Phosphalugel. Maalox. Gaviscon. Gastracid. Rennie.

Folk remedies help to quickly cope with nausea. Babies in the first year of life are given dill water. You can prepare it yourself, but you must strictly adhere to the recipe. It is better to purchase ready-made granules in a bag at the pharmacy, dissolve them according to the instructions and give them to the child throughout the day. It relieves nausea, cramps, is a mild laxative and diuretic.

Plantex. Dill water. Dill. Children's instant teas based on fennel - “Hipp”, “Baby”, “Bebivita”, “Humana”.

School-age children, if they feel nauseous, can be offered green tea with a slice of lemon. Decoctions of lemon balm or mint and tincture of orange peels will also relieve the unpleasant symptom.

Poisoning or acute intestinal infection

In this case, you can give the child some remedy for nausea, but it will be ineffective, since the infection is always accompanied by vomiting. Moreover, taking the drug can speed up its appearance.

Against the background of intoxication of the body, children rapidly develop dehydration. Loss of fluid is dangerous for a small organism. Therefore, at the first aid stage, the key action is to provide the child with plenty of fluids. You need to drink warm liquid, often and in small sips, so that it has time to be absorbed in the stomach. You should not drink in one gulp or in large quantities, this will provoke additional vomiting and increase dehydration.

As a liquid, the child can be offered any water without gas.(refined, mineral), compote, juice or fruit drink diluted with water, non-hot tea. Abundant intake of moisture into the body will reduce intoxication and reduce symptoms of nausea and headaches.

Head injuries and brain diseases


In case of traumatic brain injury, it is contraindicated to give the child any traditional anti-nausea medications.
. The mechanism of development of this symptom is not related to the activity of the gastrointestinal tract, and therefore all drugs will be ineffective.

If serious brain damage has occurred, and nausea and vomiting are constantly present in the child, the following medications are prescribed:

Diazepam. Domperidone. Lorazepam Aminazine.

The listed drugs are potent narcotic neuroleptics with many side effects. They are prescribed only by the attending physician. These drugs are not available for free sale in pharmacies. They are available by prescription only.

Assisting a child with motion sickness in transport


If a child gets sick in the car, you need to stop immediately, open the window; in the warm season it is better to go outside
. Unbutton outerwear, top buttons on a shirt or jacket, loosen the collar. Provide maximum access to fresh air.

Offer to drink water. If there is no obvious urge to vomit, you can give your child a lollipop for nausea. Wipe the skin of the face and neck with damp hypoallergenic (non-scented) wipes. The movement can be continued when the nausea subsides and the child’s well-being improves.

Gagging without vomiting in a child is a common phenomenon that parents encounter throughout the entire period of growth and maturation of children. To provide first aid, you need to analyze and correctly assess the baby’s condition.. If you suspect the seriousness of the problem, do not self-medicate, but consult a pediatrician or call an ambulance.

All children, without exception, sometimes have a stomach ache - and there may be a dozen different reasons for this. How can you independently, without the help of a doctor, determine which abdominal pain in a child is dangerous and requires quick “rescue” measures, and which pain can be eliminated by self-medication?

There are no children in the world who never have a stomach ache. Adult children can talk in detail about where and how they hurt, younger children can point with their fingers, but babies, alas, cannot tell anything about their pain. Meanwhile, not only the method of treatment, but even whether the baby will stay at home or needs to be urgently hospitalized depends on the nature of abdominal pain in children and the location of its localization...

Abdominal pain – familiar from childhood

...And nearby are hippos
Grabbing their tummies:
They, the hippos,
Stomachs hurt...
...And Aibolit runs to the hippos,
And pats them on the tummies,
And everyone in order
Gives me chocolate
And sets and sets thermometers for them!...

From the point of view of pediatrics, Korney Ivanovich, of course, slightly embellished the situation - alas, it will not be possible to “really” cure abdominal pain in a child (even a “child” of a hippopotamus) with chocolate and patting. You will have to choose a “real” and safe medicine. But the remedy for stomach pain can only be chosen correctly when you clearly understand the reason why the child has a stomach ache. And as it turns out, there are more than a dozen of them...

For example, in newborns and infants, the most common cause of abdominal pain is, of course,. About 70% of all babies suffer from this temporary phenomenon and cry bitterly during attacks. But, fortunately, colic in newborns and infants is a temporary attack, and, as a rule, they go away on their own by the age of 4-6 months.

Why does a child have a stomach ache: the most common causes of pain

So, newborns and infants most often cry because of a very specific and purely infantile misfortune - colic. What about older kids? Why do these children have stomach pain?

The older a child gets, the more potential causes for abdominal pain there are.

In older children (starting from the age when the child himself becomes more “mobile” and active), among the groups of causes of abdominal pain are usually listed:

  • 1 The most common and most common reason why a child has a stomach ache comes down to one word - constipation. This misfortune happens to children, in turn, also due to various circumstances -.
  • 2 Gastroenteritis (that is, inflammatory diseases of the stomach and/or small intestine). Intestinal infections cause the greatest pain to children, both viral (the most common of them is) and bacterial (for example, dysentery).
  • 3 Nutritional features (the baby ate a low-quality product that caused diarrhea, or some of the foods provoked diarrhea, or simply - the child ate much more than he can digest, etc.).
  • 4 Poisoning by poisons and drugs (for example, most antibiotics can cause mild abdominal pain in children).
  • 5 Diseases of a surgical nature, for example: intestinal obstruction, appendicitis, ulcer, hernia and others.

How to find out: is a child’s abdominal pain caused by some serious illness that requires hospitalization?

This is a fact - most often children’s stomachs hurt from colic (if they are still just babies) and from constipation (if their age has already “passed” 6-12 months).

A little less often - from (like rotavirus) and banal digestive disorders (ate “the wrong thing” or ate too much of something...). Other reasons why a child has a stomach ache are even less common.

However, when our baby, doubled over, cries from stomach pain, we usually imagine much more serious misfortunes - maybe the child has acute appendicitis? Or was he poisoned? What if he has an ulcer, gastritis or hernia? In a word, the parental imagination quickly paints a gloomy picture in the darkest colors...

But in reality, such dangerous and acute pain in the abdomen, which can actually indicate serious diseases that require urgent medical attention, can be identified by some special markers (signs). The most obvious and simple one is the exact location of the pain.

In the vast majority of cases, children who say that their “tummy hurts” point to the navel area. And this is, in a certain sense, a good sign! Remember: the further from the navel area the place that “according to” the baby is in pain is located, the sooner you need to call a doctor. Especially if the child grabs his side (any side) with his hands and says that it hurts a lot. In this case, call an ambulance immediately.

However, there are other symptoms associated with abdominal pain that require urgent medical attention. So:

A child has a stomach ache: in what cases should you urgently find a doctor?

  • 1 The child has a stomach ache, but the pain is not in the navel area;
  • 2 Pain lasts more than 24 hours;
  • 3 If abdominal pain is accompanied by one or more of the following symptoms:
  • the child broke out in a cold sweat and his skin became pale;
  • the child's temperature has risen sharply;
  • blood appeared in the stool or vomit (any amount - even one drop is enough to “fly” to the doctor!);
  • it became painful for the baby to pee (painful urination);
  • the child vomits and the vomit is yellow, green, or black;
  • The baby has become very lethargic, sleepy, and refuses not only to eat, but also to drink.
  • in boys, abdominal pain is combined with pain in the groin or testicles.
  • 4 If a child has a stomach ache, but the pain is not constant, but episodic, and at the same time it is combined with diarrhea, which has lasted for more than 72 hours, or is combined with vomiting, which has not gone away for more than a day.

It is very important for parents to know that if their child is vomiting, they should never use antiemetic drugs on their own. None and under no circumstances!

The vast majority of cases of abdominal pain in a child that are not included in this list (that is, the pain is localized in the navel area and is not accompanied by the above symptoms) do not require medical intervention.

And yet - no one has canceled the pain! The child really suffers from having a stomach ache. How can you help him in such cases (since you have determined that he does not need emergency medical care)?

How to relieve a child from stomach pain

Naturally, first of all, measures to help a child who has a stomach ache will correspond to why the pain appeared. In other words, the cause always determines the treatment.

  • 1 Find out if your baby is constipated. And if there is one, give a remedy for constipation based on lactulose syrup.
  • 2 Stop feeding the baby. If pain appears due to the introduction of a new product into the complementary feeding program, immediately discontinue this product.
  • 3 Enter a drinking regime. Ideally, you should give special oral rehydration products (sold in pharmacies) to drink, which will restore the water-salt balance in the child’s body. If there are none, give us clean still water. Under no circumstances should you give: sweet soda (any lemonade and fizzy drinks), any fruit juices and dairy drinks.
  • 4 If the cause of abdominal pain in a child is excessive gas formation, he can be given any drug based on the substance simethicone.

An extremely common way of parental help when a child has a stomach ache is a heating pad. However, in some situations (for example, with any inflammatory process), a heating pad for abdominal pain can cause a sharp deterioration in the condition. Therefore, only a doctor can prescribe a heating pad for the stomach, and only after making an accurate diagnosis.

A child has a stomach ache and a fever: what does this mean?

If a child has a stomach ache and a high temperature, this gives a high chance of suspecting an intestinal infection in the child. By the way, in addition to the rise in temperature, there may be other symptoms, for example, the widespread nature of the disease.

With intestinal infections, people (including children) never get sick alone - such diseases are always widespread. Therefore, if you know that cases of some kind of intestinal infection have emerged in kindergarten or school, and your baby began to complain of abdominal pain and fever, there is a high probability that he, too, “picked up” the infection “along the chain.” ..

If your baby has a stomach ache and a fever, get ready for the fact that the whole family will most likely have to be treated for an intestinal infection.

Any infectious disease must be treated immediately, especially an intestinal infection. However, we have already said several hundred times - only a qualified doctor has the right to diagnose a child who is suspected of having an infection. And only he, relying on the diagnosis, is able to draw up a treatment plan as correctly as possible.

Thus, if your child complains of abdominal pain and at the same time his temperature rises sharply, seek medical help immediately.

By the way, an interesting fact: most of the most dangerous diseases, which usually cause severe stomach pain and which require urgent surgical intervention, are never accompanied by fever. It turns out that fever willingly “keeps company” with infections, but almost always stays away from surgical diseases.

So, to summarize: the vast majority of children experience abdominal pain from time to time. The most common reason for this is constipation or some nutritional problems. There is no need to be particularly afraid of such pains - they pass (and most often pass quickly), do not require any serious therapy, and even moreover, often do not even require a doctor’s examination.

But at the same time, sometimes a child may have a stomach ache precisely because he was “attacked” by a very serious and dangerous disease. In this case, your timely seeking medical help can literally save the child's life. We have listed in detail special markers (associated symptoms), which serve as a signal for active action on your part - take the child to the hospital, call an ambulance, etc.

If you behave carefully and wisely - do not panic where there is no reason for it, and vice versa - act decisively in situations where the life and health of the child depends on it, no disease will be able to overcome either you or your child.

Parents often face an unpleasant situation: their child has a stomach ache. What can be given to relieve symptoms? What is the cause of the pain? Finding the answer on your own is quite difficult; you need the help of a doctor. In many diseases, other symptoms are added to the pain: nausea, vomiting, fever, the child suffers from constipation or diarrhea.

Parents should know the rules of first aid for food poisoning, acute conditions, and relapses of chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The more information, the more beneficial the actions of adults before the doctor arrives. Incorrect measures and errors in the use of certain medications cause serious consequences for the child.

Causes

Many diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and acute conditions are accompanied by fever, nausea, and the child complains of weakness. Their localization will help to understand the cause of pain. With various diseases and pathological conditions, discomfort is felt in a certain place.

Why does my child have a stomach ache? Pay attention to the connection between the localization of pain and various diseases:

  • dull pain in the right upper abdomen, near the navel on the right. At the same time, the temperature has risen to 39–40 degrees, diarrhea with mucus develops, nausea is constantly felt, and sometimes it hurts to urinate. There are signs of appendicitis. Call an ambulance immediately: sometimes a delay of half an hour to an hour leads to peritonitis, blood poisoning due to a ruptured appendix;
  • pain in the left hypochondrium. Signal of problems with the pancreas. Pain after active activities or intense exercise often indicates improper functioning of the diaphragm. This situation often occurs after a severe injury. Don’t brush off your child’s complaints or put off visiting the pediatrician. You will need an examination, the help of a gastroenterologist, a surgeon (taking into account the severity of the problem);
  • pain near the navel, in the central part of the abdomen. This is a signal of problems with the large or small intestine. Most often, the problem occurs in adolescents due to poor nutrition, consumption of fast food, and irregular eating patterns. A sharp increase in temperature plus pain in the center of the abdomen is a signal of toxic poisoning with heavy metals. Hospitalization is required;
  • "acute belly" A common condition in preschoolers/primary schoolchildren. It is difficult for the child to move due to pain, the abdominal wall becomes tense, vomiting occurs, and the temperature rises. The problem is caused by chronic pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract (biliary dyskinesia, gastroduodenitis) or intestinal infections. There is no need to give medicine. Frequent intake of a small volume (1–2 tablespoons) of boiled water will prevent dehydration. The optimal solution is to call an ambulance;
  • The stomach hurts on the sides, the temperature is elevated. Similar symptoms often develop with nephritis, an inflammation of the kidneys. Sharp pain in the lumbar region, when touching the sides, often radiating to the stomach, at high temperatures is a reason to call an ambulance. Complete rest is important, you need clothing that does not compress the tummy and lower back;
  • piercing, severe pain in the abdominal area, high fever certainly indicate the development of peritonitis. It is difficult for the child to move, his tummy hurts so much. The condition often occurs as a complication of a stomach ulcer, intestinal obstruction, acute appendicitis, or after ingestion of foreign bodies. The parents' task is to urgently call an ambulance.

Most diseases accompanied by pain in the stomach/intestines require hospitalization. Calling an ambulance will save the health, and often the life, of a small patient. Self-medication for pain in the tummy area is unacceptable due to the weakness of the gastrointestinal tract in children, due to the high risk of complications. Particular attention is given to newborns and children under three years of age. Due to their age, children cannot accurately explain the nature of the pain; they cannot do without the help of a qualified doctor.

Diarrhea and constipation

Diarrhea most often develops in children under five years of age, constipation - at any age.

Peculiarities:

  • causes of diarrhea - gastroenteritis or “intestinal flu”, dysentery, salmonellosis;
  • causes of poisoning – consumption of stale food, accidental ingestion of hazardous substances (acids, alkalis, liquid household chemicals);
  • causes of constipation are improper functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, lack of fluid in the body, allergic reactions, psychological problems, atony of the intestinal walls. In infants, constipation develops due to improper nutrition of the nursing mother. Preschoolers often have problems with defecation due to helminthic infestations.

Diarrhea and constipation sometimes occur without fever, but with abdominal pain. With constipation, pain often occurs at night or in the morning, more often around 4–5 am.

Other causes of abdominal pain

Unfortunately, there are other factors that cause discomfort in the pelvic area. With pain in the lower abdomen, there is no diarrhea; the temperature rises only in severe stages of the inflammatory process.

The main causes of pain in the lower abdomen:

  • in girls - cystitis (inflammation of the bladder). A characteristic symptom is painful, frequent urination;
  • in boys - chronic prostatitis (the problem can develop even in young patients), cystitis. Problems with urination were also noted. If you have pain on the left or right side of the lower abdomen, intestinal diseases are possible;
  • In boys and girls, discomfort in this area is sometimes caused by worms. The problem is most often observed in children 4–8 years old.

Important! It is no coincidence that the symptoms and possible causes of common diseases of the stomach, intestines and bladder are described in such detail. Many parents do not know what pain in a certain part of the abdomen indicates and act incorrectly. Unfortunately, adults often complicate the diagnosis of the disease: they give the child analgesics and antibiotics. Sometimes parents hesitate to call an ambulance or visit a doctor, putting their children in serious danger.

How can you help your child?

What to do if your child has a stomach ache? Doctors strongly recommend that parents not self-medicate, if you are not sure what caused the problems with the stomach and intestines. Incorrect actions by non-specialists often only aggravate the situation and intensify symptoms.

Read the doctors' recommendations, remember what you can give to children if they have pain in the tummy, and what medications can be harmful. The more knowledge you have on this topic, the higher the chances that you will not be confused when you hear the complaint: “My tummy hurts a lot.”

Memo for parents:

  • remember: abdominal pain is a sign of negative processes occurring in the gastrointestinal tract and urinary tract. The reasons range from acute appendicitis and peritonitis to banal indigestion due to overeating. Only a doctor will figure out what happened to the child (often a visual examination and analysis of signs is not enough; a number of laboratory tests are required);
  • never give painkillers before the doctor arrives: the medicine will “lubricate” the symptoms, the pain will subside for a while. After taking analgesics, it is more difficult for the doctor to understand the cause of the problem tormenting the little patient;
  • It is forbidden to give antibiotics, enzyme preparations, or drugs that improve intestinal motility at your discretion;
  • a weak solution of potassium permanganate, alcohol compounds, strong tea should not be given for uncontrollable vomiting and abdominal pain;
  • if pain is combined with high fever, vomiting, chills, diarrhea, general weakness or increased agitation, or if there is severe pain during urination, it is important to call an ambulance in time;
  • folk remedies, herbal teas are allowed for diarrhea and constipation. At your scheduled appointment with your doctor, ask which formulations are suitable for your child’s age. Buy herbs, learn the rules of preparation and use of home remedies. Interest will not be superfluous: intestinal disorders, colic, stomach/intestinal problems are often found in children, especially under 5 years old.

What can be given to a child with the following symptoms? What medicines and traditional recipes are allowed for use? Take note of doctors' advice.

Pain and nausea

If a child has a stomach ache and vomiting, then the following are allowed:

  • unsweetened tea, still mineral water in small portions;
  • a decoction of chamomile, lemon balm, mint or a collection of these components. For a glass of boiling water - a tablespoon of raw materials or antiemetic mixture. If nausea occurs, give your child 1 tbsp. l. decoction Frequency – three times a day;
  • Dill water gives a good effect. The proportions are the same as for herbal infusions. Steamed dill seeds effectively relieve not only nausea, but also reduce the frequency of colic with increased gas formation, and dull the gag reflex.
  • Smecta and Activated carbon are suitable for removing toxins.

Nausea and vomiting

  • Regidron will prevent dehydration. Dissolve the powder packet according to the instructions, use according to the directions on the package. The powder does not cause allergies and is well tolerated by children of any age;
  • in case of persistent vomiting, give the child a drink before the ambulance arrives: give small portions of still or boiled water every 5–10 minutes;
  • reduces the gag reflex with a decoction of valerian, dill seeds, lemon balm, mint.

Fever and stomach ache

If a child has a fever and a stomach ache, then the following are allowed:

  • at readings from 38 degrees - antipyretics (Efferalgan, children's Panadol, Paracetamol);
  • Drink small amounts frequently to avoid dehydration. Regidron powder is suitable for children of any age to prepare a solution;
  • at a temperature of 39–40, pain in the right side of the abdomen, indicating the development of acute appendicitis, there is no need to give medication. Enemas and laxatives are prohibited. Apply a heating pad with cold water or a carton of milk from the refrigerator to your right side. Rest plus an urgent call to the ambulance is important.

Loose stool

If a child has a stomach ache and diarrhea, then the following are allowed:

  • Activated carbon.
  • Smecta.
  • Regidron, Oralit (to restore water-salt balance).
  • Chamomile decoction.
  • Low mineralized mineral water.
  • Rice water (without salt) in small portions, strong tea without sugar.

Constipation

  • a diet is required, avoiding fatty, fried, spicy foods;
  • no buns, pies, cakes, pasta. Fresh white bread, which causes fermentation, is prohibited;
  • Boiled beets with vegetable oil, steamed prunes, and
  • Give your child a Microlax microenema. The drug is suitable even for newborns.

Use an oral laxative only after consulting a pediatrician or pediatric gastroenterologist. Frequent use of laxatives is undesirable: “lazy bowel” syndrome will appear, and it will be difficult for the child to have a big bowel movement. Normaze, Duphalac, magnesium sulfate, Bisacodyl, Guttalax are suitable for children. Castor and vegetable oils make defecation easier.

Prevention measures

  • diet, for chronic diseases - diet;
  • proper nutrition of the baby and nursing mother;
  • refusal of fried, spicy, fatty foods. Less buns, sweets, full-fat milk, fast food, soda with dyes;
  • mandatory inclusion in the menu of fermented milk products, fruits, vegetables, lean meat, fish, dried fruit compotes;
  • physical activity, strengthening the immune system;
  • prevention of hypothermia;
  • personal hygiene, mandatory washing of fruits, vegetables and berries;
  • regular monitoring of the child’s health, attention to complaints of abdominal discomfort;
  • calm atmosphere in the family.

Now you know the main causes and methods of eliminating tummy pain in a child. Before giving medicine or herbal decoction, consider whether the medicine will harm your baby or preschooler. Many symptoms require calling an ambulance and immediate hospitalization. Remember: pain in the abdominal area is a dangerous sign; consultation with a gastroenterologist and pediatrician is required.

Video. Dr. Komarovsky about abdominal pain:

Every parent has encountered a child’s complaints of abdominal pain. The disease can appear at any age and has many possible causes. Abdominal pain can signal the presence of a serious illness; it is important not to miss this “bell”. To make it easier for parents to navigate the symptoms and causes, we will consider these aspects in more detail.

The causes of abdominal pain can be very different - from harmless overeating to very serious diseases that threaten health and life.

Why can children have stomach pain?

There are many causes of abdominal pain, they depend on the age and gender of the child. The disease can develop against the background of chronic or infectious diseases, nervous tension, and age-related changes. The main reasons include:

  • overexertion, stress;
  • disturbances in the functioning of the digestive system;
  • viruses and infections;
  • gastrointestinal pathologies;
  • allergies;
  • poisoning.

Diseases of the abdominal organs

Often the appearance of pain is associated with abnormalities in the functioning of the internal organs of the abdominal cavity. Untimely treatment can lead to serious complications, so if acute or chronic pain occurs, you should immediately consult a specialist.

Depending on the location and symptoms, the doctor will make one of the diagnoses:

  1. Appendicitis (we recommend reading:). As a rule, children aged 8-12 years are susceptible to inflammation of the appendix. The pain will be localized in the navel area and may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
  2. In children over 6 months of age, volvulus is diagnosed. The baby feels acute pain, turns pale, vomits, and decreases blood pressure.
  3. Inguinal hernia strangulation (we recommend reading:). Appears over the age of 2 years. Discomfort in the abdominal area is expressed by cramps, accompanied by sweating, a feeling of anxiety, and pale skin.
  4. Children 5-7 years old are susceptible to pneumococcal peritonitis. The pain is severe, acute, the child often vomits, a fever develops, and over time the condition only worsens (we recommend reading:).
  5. Tuberculous mesadenitis. The patient experiences periodic cramps, diarrhea, and increased body temperature. A specific symptom is enlarged lymph nodes in the abdominal area.
  6. Attacks of pain may indicate intussusception, a condition in which the peristalsis of the organ is disrupted. Vomiting and fever may occur.

If abdominal pain is caused by diseases of the abdominal cavity, you should not hesitate to consult a doctor!

Any of the listed diagnoses requires timely diagnosis and treatment, so if such a clinical picture appears, you must call an ambulance. Delay will lead to peritonitis, the treatment of which is only possible through surgery.

Diseases of the pelvic organs and kidneys

Urological pathologies often become the basis for the appearance of pain in the abdominal region. In this case, the symptom manifests itself as spasms; unpleasant sensations can radiate to the lumbar region. The child feels a frequent urge to urinate even at night, and the pain intensifies. Among urological diseases there are:

  1. Acute pyelonephritis (we recommend reading:). Develops against the background of congenital pathology of the urinary system, accompanied by high fever and dehydration.
  2. Infectious diseases of the bladder, children over one year of age are susceptible to them. The inflammatory process begins, the pain is localized in the center of the lower abdomen, and the temperature rises.
  3. Urolithiasis disease. Kidney stones are found in children of all ages. The disease is indicated by signs such as vomiting, bloating, and pain when urinating.

Poisoning and allergic reactions

The younger the child, the greater the likelihood of allergies. The body may reject unfamiliar food.

An allergic reaction manifests itself individually with the following symptoms:

  • nausea and vomiting;
  • skin rash, redness, itching;
  • runny nose, cough;
  • diarrhea;
  • lacrimation;
  • inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes.

Antihistamines will help cope with allergies; in case of poisoning, it will be more difficult to solve the problem. It is manifested by frequent vomiting and nausea, stool upset, and abdominal pain. The causes of the disease may be the consumption of incompatible products or low-quality, expired food. The doctor will prescribe a treatment regimen depending on the severity of the pathology.

Functional pain

Doctors refer to this type of pain as conditions not associated with infectious infections or pathologies of internal organs. Such pains can manifest themselves in paroxysms; they are not dangerous, but cause significant discomfort.

Their causes are:

  • nervous tension, stress;
  • abdominal migraine in childhood is a cramping pain in the navel area, which turns into migraine as one gets older;
  • in girls after the 9th year of life, aching pain in the lower abdomen may indicate the onset of menstruation;

Menstruation in a teenage girl can cause aching pain in the lower abdomen
  • Irritable bowel syndrome is characterized by stool disorder and pain in the abdominal area; this condition is not dangerous to health;
  • Functional dyspepsia resembles gastritis in its symptoms: dull pain in the abdominal area, a feeling of heaviness, heartburn or belching.

Such pain does not require treatment and often goes away during adolescence. A proper daily routine and a comfortable home environment will help alleviate the child’s condition.

Other causes of pain

If the pain is not caused by diseases of the internal organs, infections or nervous disorders, then you should pay attention to other possible causes. They will depend on the age and lifestyle of the child:

The abdominal cavity in the usual sense is the front part of the body between the ribs and the groin area, but the localization of pain is usually more narrowly focused. Depending on where the child’s stomach hurts, a specific diagnosis can be made:

Parents should know that young children most often cannot correctly determine the location of pain; they complain of discomfort in the umbilical region. Try to carefully check the location by palpation.

By duration

Short-term, one-time pain is usually associated with overeating or eating junk food. If your child has a stomach ache for more than a day, you should consult a specialist. Occasional outbreaks combined with stool disorders indicate danger. If these symptoms persist for more than 3 days, seek help immediately.

What diagnostic methods can be used to determine the causes of pain?

How to support a child if he has a stomach ache? The first stage is a consultation with a pediatrician. The doctor will conduct a general examination and, if a pathology is suspected, will give a referral to specialists. You may need to consult a urologist, surgeon, or gastroenterologist. In addition to blood, urine and stool tests, they may prescribe:

  • colonoscopy - examination of the large intestine; in well-equipped clinics it is possible to carry out the procedure without swallowing the “colon”;
  • fibrogastroscopy - examination of internal organs using an endoscope; for young children, such diagnostics are often replaced with an X-ray of the stomach;
  • Ultrasound - depending on the symptoms, the pelvic organs, liver, pancreas, bladder, kidneys, spleen are checked;
  • irrigoscopy - x-ray examination of the colon;
  • Magnetic resonance imaging of the abdominal cavity is prescribed when the diagnosis is unknown.

Depending on the location and nature of the pain, the doctor may prescribe an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity.

What to do if a child complains of severe abdominal pain?

Do not panic, as the feeling of anxiety will be passed on to the child. Pay attention to the accompanying symptoms, try to ask the child about the location and nature of the pain - this will help the doctor. You also need to remember when and what the child last ate, and why the illness might have occurred. If the patient's condition is of concern, call the pediatrician.

First aid

Acute and prolonged pain requires special therapy, which will be carried out by a specialist. Before the doctor arrives, you should use the following general recommendations:

  • do not give your child any pills until the doctor arrives - painkillers will relieve symptoms that may indicate serious inflammation;
  • do not put pressure on the stomach - if the cause is inflammatory processes, then mechanical stress can cause rupture of soft tissues;
  • To relieve pain, apply cold to the stomach;
  • Give your baby small sips every 10 minutes.

If an infant has colic, it is recommended to do light exercises, which will help relieve spasms, promote gas bubbles in the intestines and facilitate their release (more details in the article:)

If we are talking about an infant, and the discomfort is caused by colic:

  • stroke the tummy with the edge of your palm in a clockwise direction;
  • hold the baby in a column;
  • put the baby on his back, bend his legs and press them to his stomach, then straighten his limbs - you need to do the exercises several times;
  • Give your child or doctor-recommended gas medicine.

Tablets and other medications

Any medications can be given only if you know exactly the causes of the disease. When parents are sure that the disease is not severe, they can treat the child at home with the following medications:

  • for poisoning and diarrhea - activated carbon (take at the rate of 1 tablet per 10 kg of weight); Polysorb, Enterosgel, Smecta (allowed from birth);
  • for bloating and gases - Espumisan, a young child is given Espumisan Baby, Bobotik, Sub Simplex (we recommend reading:);
  • for heaviness and overeating - Mezim tablets;
  • for heartburn - Almagel or Rennie (contraindicated for children under 10 and 12 years old, respectively);
  • an illness that manifests itself in attacks can be eliminated with the help of drugs with paracetamol or ibuprofen.


Folk remedies

It is possible to treat the stomach with the help of traditional medicine only after finding out the cause of the disease. Recipe examples:

  1. For dysbiosis, prepare a drink with probiotics. Take 1-2 tbsp. yogurt, 3 tsp. coriander leaf juice, 0.5 tsp. cardamom, a pinch of salt and 200 ml of water. Mix everything and drink the drink an hour after eating.
  2. Fennel seeds can help relieve indigestion. After eating spicy or fatty foods, you can chew fresh fennel or dry fennel seeds. Pharmacies sell a ready-made herbal medicine with this active ingredient - Plantex granules.
  3. Rice water will help with diarrhea. For 0.5 cups of cereal, take 6 cups of water. Cook the rice as usual, then strain. The resulting product can be sweetened with a spoon of honey.

Fennel seeds are useful for any problems associated with diseases of the stomach and intestines

When is it necessary to see a doctor urgently?

In what cases should you not hesitate to see a doctor? Calling an ambulance is mandatory if:

  • in a child under 5 years of age, acute pain does not go away for more than 3 hours;
  • the pain appeared suddenly, accompanied by pallor of the skin or loss of consciousness;
  • there is repeated vomiting and nausea;
  • diarrhea appears, the body does not take food;
  • sharp pain appeared at night;
  • the stomach hurts very much, there is a fever;
  • pain occurs continuously for several weeks.

In children, pathological processes pass faster than in adults, and the gastrointestinal tract is still too sensitive, so it is important to pay attention to alarming symptoms in a timely manner. Self-treatment is possible only if parents are completely confident that there are no serious illnesses.



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