Tummy talk: Treating stomach aches and pains

It’s the same morning ritual. You rush around to get your child dressed, make her breakfast and try to get her off to school on time. But one morning, your daughter refuses to eat her breakfast and complains that her tummy hurts. Is it something she ate? Constipation? Stomach aches are very common. Almost 25 percent of school age kids complain of intermittent (on and off) stomach pain that lasts more than two months. Rest assured, while stomach pain can happen for any number of reasons, the discomfort is usually short term, and children continue to maintain their overall good health. “Often, a stomach ache is not cause for concern,” says Dr. Lori Zimmerman, a gastroenterologist with Boston Children’s Hospital Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. “More often, it might mean a child is constipated or withholding her stool, is sensitive to a certain food (possibly lactose intolerance), is too hungry or too full or is worried and feeling the stress in her stomach.” Dr. Zimmerman offers the following tips and home remedies to help alleviate stomach pain and discomfort. Watch Dr. Zimmerman’s caregiver video Tummy ache checklist If your child is experiencing abdominal pain and able to describe the discomfort, ask her the following questions: Is the pain located throughout the belly area or consuming at least half of the stomach? If so, this form of pain and discomfort is typically attributed to a stomach virus, indigestio...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Ask the Expert Caregivers Health & Wellness gastronenterology Lori Zimmerman Source Type: news