This article is professionally consulted by Dr. Nguyen Thai Ngoc Chau - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Phu Quoc International General Hospital.
Abdominal pain in children is a very common condition, it is a normal physiological sign or sometimes a symptom of a disease, if not detected and treated early, it can directly affect the child's health.
1. What causes abdominal pain in children?
Pain around the navel in children can originate from many different reasons, some have acute abdominal pain but some have chronic abdominal pain.
In case of acute abdominal pain, children often experience severe pain, crying, pale skin, and cold sweat. In this case, parents must stay calm, quickly take their children to the nearest hospital for examination and treatment. The main causes of acute pain around the navel in children are appendicitis, intussusception, strangulated hernia...
Some causes of pain around the navel in children include:
- Due to intestinal obstruction: Intestinal obstruction not only causes abdominal pain in children but is also accompanied by symptoms such as vomiting green or yellow bile, bloating...;
- Food poisoning may also be a cause of pain around the navel. Food poisoning is classified as an emergency, often accompanied by fever, diarrhea, abdominal cramps...;
- Parasites are one of the causes of pain around the navel in children, which often recur. By performing tests, worm eggs may be detected in the stool, and the image of roundworms may be seen through ultrasound;
- Urinary tract stones are also one of the reasons why children have really severe pain around the navel, however, this cause is not common.
The following content is prepared under supervision of Thạc sĩ, Bác sĩ y khoa, Ma Văn Thấm , Nhi , Phòng khám Đa khoa Vinmec Dương Đông(Phú Quốc)
2. What to do when children have pain around the navel?
Absolutely do not overlook pain around the navel in children, as it can be a warning sign of a dangerous disease. As soon as detecting severe pain around the navel accompanied by symptoms of bloody stool, anorexia, bloating, bloating, vomiting..., the child should be quickly taken to the nearest medical facility for examination.
Parents should absolutely not arbitrarily give their child any medication without a doctor's prescription, self-medication before going to the doctor will distort the results, especially in cases of pain around the navel that require emergency surgery such as intussusception, intestinal obstruction, strangulated hernia, appendicitis....
In addition, parents should take their children for regular health check-ups to detect diseases and have effective treatment methods before they recur.
3. When to take a child with a bellyache to the doctor ?
If child's abdominal pain persists for several days or is accompanied by the following symptoms, their parents should take them to the hospital immediately:
- Blood in the stool
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fever
- Jaundice
- Swelling or pain in the lower abdomen
- Severe abdominal pain
- Persistent nausea and vomiting
4. How to diagnose pain around the navel in children?
To determine the cause of pain around the navel in children, doctors first review the child's medical history and perform a physical examination. Depending on the case, the child may undergo some tests such as:
- Blood test to assess the number of blood cells and electrolyte levels in the body.
- Urinalysis to rule out kidney stones or urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Taking a stool sample to check for pathogens
- Imaging tests such as X-ray, CT scan... to help visualize the child's abdominal organs.
To ensure the safety and future development of their child, parents should not arbitrarily treat their pain around the navel without identifying the cause. The best solution is to see a doctor for appropriate treatment.
Dr. Nguyen Thai Ngoc Chau has 9 years of experience in Pediatrics - Neonatology, formerly Deputy Head of Pediatrics Department, Phuong Chau International Hospital (Can Tho). Dr. Chau regularly participates in training courses on child nutrition, pediatric resuscitation, and treatment of pediatric diseases.
To arrange an appointment, please call HOTLINE or make your reservation directly HERE. You may also download the MyVinmec app to schedule appointments faster and manage your reservations more conveniently.
