Nancy Mason came to the clinic with the following problem:
"My eight-year-old son Harry keeps complaining of stomachaches. He has undergone checkups and medication any times. He still talks about stomach hurt and uneasiness. What can be done about it?"
Sensitive Stomachs
I am reproducing the sass in the form of this article. I am sure it will be of help to many parents who have at some point of time faced this not so uncommon riddle.
Recurrent Abdominal Pain or Rap is like Rap music! Very difficult to understand! You and your physician may indulge in endless investigations without arrival to any diagnosis. However, a basic stool and urine habit and small exam along with Ultrasonography (Usg) of abdomen should always be carried out in all children having Rap.
If your child has pain in the abdomen, but otherwise looks well, you can be roughly sure that the problem is not serious. See the physician if you have cause to be anxious. Some leading causes of abdominal pain in children are:
o Psychological Factors
o Medical causes
o Surgical Conditions
Psychological Factors
School going children often complain of recurrent abdominal pain, commonly placed around the navel. In most cases, the pain is not severe and the child forgets all about it if he/she is complicated in doing something interesting. It rarely wakes the child from sleep and the child is perfectly all right in between the attacks, which may last for a few moments or longer, but rarely for more than half an hour. Regularly these children are quite intelligent.
Emotional trauma due to any infer may be the cause of abdominal pain in such children. Is the child being bullied in school? Is the child afraid of a new teacher? Are the examinations causing much anxiety? Is the child upset because of a quarrel between the parents?
It is not always easy to probe the mind of a child. If the symptoms persist, take the guidance of a doctor, who may even refer the child to a family counselor, psychologist or a psychiatrist. Don't upset the child by remarks like, "You are just acting" or "Do not try to fool us". Such children do get pain, but the indication of illness is probably associated more to the mind rather than the body - maybe a subconscious way of attracting the parents' concentration for more body contact. Hence, the treatment lies in understanding the child and helping the child overcome the emotional problem, if any.
Medical Causes
Although assorted worm infestations can cause abdominal pain, the tendency to infer that they are the illustrious cause in most cases is wrong. Roundworms, threadworms, hookworms and whipworms can be eradicated by administering Albendazole or Mebendazole. Care must be taken to treat the whole family if worms are found in the stool of any member. For treating Tapeworms Niclosamide and Praziquantel are used.
Giardiasis and Amoebiasis may be suspected in children with persistent or recurrent pain in the abdomen. A stool exam of a fresh sample is asked for to confirm the diagnosis. A procedure of Metronidazole will solve the problem in most cases. In some cases amoeba may invade the liver and cause Hepatic Amoebiasis. This leads to abdominal hurt and pain of varying degrees. If treated inadequately it may lead to a liver abscess. A full procedure of Metronidazole or Tinidazole must be administered to cure this condition. Secnidazole and Ornidazole can also be tried. In some difficult cases a long procedure of Chloroquine may be given.
Bacillary Dysentery is other leading cause of griping pain in the abdomen along with passage of blood or mucus in the stools, which may not necessarily be loose. This condition can be treated by the use of a wide variety of antibiotics.
Surgical Conditions
Appendicitis, Intestinal Obstruction, Intussusception, Strangulated Hernia, Torsion of Testes all begin with abdominal pain before other signs and symptoms appear. The pain increases in intensity rapidly and if surgical intervention is not done in time the condition may become life threatening.
Other tasteless surgical condition that can cause spasmodic pain in the abdomen is a stone in the urinary tract. The onset of pain with a stone is sudden. The pain is often placed in the back and extends towards the groin. A dull ache persists, with outbursts of shooting unbearable pain. This may be associated with passage of blood in the urine.
Ultrasonography can Regularly clinch the diagnosis. Cystoscopy, Laser or conventional surgical operation may be required for removing the stone depending upon its site and size.
Finally, we would like parents not to panic when faced with this very tasteless problem. But at the same time they should remain wary of any persistent abdominal pain, especially if it keeps on increasing in intensity with the passage of time. We know a physician integrate that roughly lost their only son because they didn't think that his abdominal pain was due to a ruptured appendix.
Abdominal Pain - Mom My Stomach is Aching! Sensitive Stomachs
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