Pain in the abdomen (abdominal pain) can be caused by many things. The causes may also change as your child gets older. Often, abdominal pain is not serious, and it gets better without treatment or by being treated at home. However, sometimes abdominal pain is serious.

Your child’s healthcare provider will ask questions about your child’s medical history and do a physical examination to try to determine the cause of the abdominal pain.

Follow these instructions at home:

General instructions

• Watch your child’s condition for any changes.

• Have your child drink enough fluid to keep his or her urine pale yellow.

• Keep all follow-up appointments as told by your child’s healthcare provider. This is important.

Contact a healthcare provider if:

• Your child’s abdominal pain changes or gets worse.

• Your child is not hungry, or your child loses weight without trying.

• Your child is constipated or has diarrhoea for more than 2–3 days.

• Your child has pain when he or she passes urine or has a bowel movement.

• Pain wakes your child up at night.

• Your child’s pain gets worse with meals, after eating or with certain foods.

• Your child vomits.

• Your child who is 3 months to 3 years old has a temperature of 39°C (102.2°F) or higher.

Get help right away if:

• Your child’s pain does not go away as soon as your child’s healthcare provider told you to expect.

• Your child cannot stop vomiting.

• Your child’s pain stays in one area of the abdomen. Pain on the right side could be caused by appendicitis.

• Your child has bloody or black stools, stools that look like tar or blood in his or her urine.

• Your child who is younger than 3 months has a temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher.

• Your child has severe abdominal pain, cramping or bloating.

• You notice signs of dehydration in your child who is one year old or younger, such as:

  • A sunken soft spot on his or her head.

  • No wet nappies in 6 hours.

  • Increased fussiness.

  • No urine in 8 hours.

  • Cracked lips.

  • No tears when they cry.

  • Dry mouth.

  • Sunken eyes.

  • Sleepiness.

• You notice signs of dehydration in your child who is one year old or older, such as:

  • No urine in 8–12 hours.

  • Cracked lips.

  • No tears when they cry.

  • Dry mouth.

  • Sunken eyes.

  • Sleepiness.

  • Weakness.

Summary

• Often, abdominal pain is not serious, and it gets better without treatment or by being treated at home. However, sometimes abdominal pain is serious.

• Watch your child’s condition for any changes.

• Give over the counter and prescription medicines only as told by your child’s healthcare provider.

• Contact a healthcare provider if your child’s abdominal pain changes or gets worse.

• Get help right away if your child has severe abdominal pain, cramping or bloating.

This information is not intended to replace advice given to you by your health care provider. Make sure you discuss any questions you have with your health care provider.