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Tummy Pain
Children often complain of tummy pain. It is one of the most common reasons parents take children to their doctor or the hospital emergency department. There are many causes of tummy pain in children.
Many children with tummy pain get better in hours or days without special treatment and often no cause can be found. Sometimes the cause becomes more obvious with time and treatment can be started. If pain or other problems persist, visit our page on tummy pain that lasts a long time or keeps coming back, or see your doctor.
Causes of tummy pain in children
There are many health problems that can cause tummy pain for children. Here are some of the possible causes:
- bowel (gut) problems – constipation, colic or irritable bowel
- infections – tummy bug (diarrhoea and vomiting), urine infections, or infections in other parts of the body like the ear or chest
- food-related problems – too much food, food poisoning or food allergies including coeliac disease
- problems outside the abdomen – muscle strain or migraine (headache)
- surgical problems – appendicitis, bowel obstruction or intussusception (telescoping of part of the gut)
- period pain – some girls can have pain before or during their periods
- worry/anxiety
- Sometimes the pain can happen more often. Further information can be found on our page about recurrent tummy pain.
When should you worry?
If your child has any of the following:
- Is going blue around the lips
- Becomes drowsy or difficult to wake
- Has green or blood stained vomit
- Has testicular pain (especially in teenagers)
- Blood in their wee, vomit or poo
- Developed severe tummy pain following a fall or an accident
You need urgent help
Go to the nearest Hospital Emergency (A&E) Department or phone 999
If your child has any of the following along with tummy pain:
- Develops a swollen tummy, or worsening pain, particularly in middle to right hand side of the tummy
- Pain on weeing or weeing more or less than normal
- Has continued fever, or is pale and sweaty
- Becomes increasingly thirsty
- Develops yellow skin or eyes
- Been vomiting for more than 24 hours
- Reduced feeding (by half)
You need to contact a doctor or nurse today
Please ring your GP surgery or call NHS 111 - dial 111
If your child:
- Has no red or amber signs and the pain is not severe and improves with pain relief
- Abdominal pain is commonly associated with menstruation in girls. If there are no red or amber features consider pain relief and give self care at home.
Self care
Continue providing your child’s care at home. If you are still concerned about your child, call NHS 111 – dial 111
What should you do?
Your child’s treatment will depend on what the doctor thinks is causing their pain. Treatment may be as simple as sending your child home with advice to rest, take fluids and eat a bland diet. Other treatment options include hospital admission and surgery.
Taking care of your child with tummy pain
General suggestions on easing the pain include:
- Make sure your child gets plenty of rest.
- Help your child drink plenty of clear fluids such as cooled boiled water or juice.
- Do not push your child to eat if they feel unwell.
- If your child is hungry, offer bland food such as crackers, rice, bananas or toast.
- Place a hot water bottle or wheat bag on your child’s tummy or run a warm bath for them. Take care not to scald yourself or your child.
- Give paracetamol if your child is in pain or is miserable. Remember that doses for children are often different to those for adults, so check the packet carefully for the right dose. Avoid giving aspirin.
Give your child regular ibuprofen for a few days. You can also give paracetamol to help with the pain. Pain can be varying in intensity and it is useful to understand how much pain your child is in and response to medicines ( Ibuprofen, Paracetamol) to help decide whether you need to seek help. Pain can be varying. You know your child best and consider seeking help sooner if you are concerned.
Mild Pain
- comes and goes
- is annoying but does not stop you doing daily activities
Moderate pain:
- always there
- makes it hard to concentrate or sleep
- you can manage to get up, wash or dress
Severe pain:
- always there and so bad it's hard to think or talk
- you cannot sleep
- it's very hard to move, get out of bed, go to the bathroom, wash or dress
If your child's pain is severe, please seek immediate medical attention and provide pain relief.
Your child should rest as much as possible until the symptoms have resolved. You can then allow your child to gradually return to their usual activities
Repeat attacks of tummy pain
Some children suffer repeat attacks of tummy pain, which can be worrying for parents. Often, no health problem can be found.
Children may feel tummy pain when they are worried about themselves or people around them. Think about whether there is anything that is upsetting your child at home, school or nursery, or with friends. See your local GP Surgery for advice. A referral may be needed to a healthcare professional who specialises in children.
Appendicitis
Appendicitis is one of the more common reasons your child may need surgery. The appendix is a small, dead-end tube leading from a part of the bowel. If this tube gets blocked, it can cause an infection. Appendicitis can happen at any age but is rare in young children.
The pain often starts in the middle of the tummy and moves down low on the right side. The tummy becomes sore to touch. This is often worse with coughing and walking around. A child with appendicitis often shows signs of being unwell such as fever, refusing food, vomiting or (sometimes) diarrhoea.
If you are concerned your child may be developing appendicitis, visit your local doctor or go to the emergency department of your nearest hospital. An operation is often needed to remove the appendix, although in some cases the problem will settle without surgery.
Where should you seek help?
- If it is non-urgent, speak to your local pharmacist or health visitor.
- If your child has any of the above features, urgently contact your GP surgery. For an urgent out-of-hours GP appointment, call NHS 111.
- You should only call 999 or go your nearest A&E department in critical or life threatening situations.
Health visitors are nurses or midwives who are passionate about promoting healthy lifestyles and preventing illness through the delivery of the Healthy Child Programme. They work with you through your pregnancy up until your child is ready to start school.
Health Visitors can also make referrals for you to other health professionals for example hearing or vision concerns or to the Community Paediatricians or to the child and adolescent mental health services.
Contact them by phoning your Health Visitor Team or local Children’s Centre.
Sound advice
Health visitors also provide advice, support and guidance in caring for your child, including:
- Breastfeeding, weaning and healthy eating
- Exercise, hygiene and safety
- Your child’s growth and development
- Emotional health and wellbeing, including postnatal depression
- Safety in the home
- Stopping smoking
- Contraception and sexual health
- Sleep and behaviour management (including temper tantrums!)
- Toilet training
- Minor illnesses
For more information watch the video: What does a health visitor do?
School nurses care for children and young people, aged 5-19, and their families, to ensure their health needs are supported within their school and community. They work closely with education staff and other agencies to support parents, carers and the children and young people, with physical and/or emotional health needs.
Primary and secondary schools have an allocated school nurse – telephone your child’s school to ask for the contact details of your named school nurse.
There is also a specialist nurse who works with families who choose to educate their children at home.
Sound Advice
Before your child starts school your health visitor will meet with the school nursing team to transfer their care to the school nursing service. The school nursing team consists of a school nursing lead, specialist public health practitioners and school health staff nurses.
They all have a role in preventing disease and promoting health and wellbeing, by:-
- encouraging healthier lifestyles
- offering immunisations
- giving information, advice and support to children, young people and their families
- supporting children with complex health needs
Each member of the team has links with many other professionals who also work with children including community paediatricians, child and adolescent mental health teams, health visitors and speech and language therapists. The school health nursing service also forms part of the multi-agency services for children, young people and families where there are child protection or safeguarding issues.
If you’re not sure which NHS service you need, call 111. An adviser will ask you questions to assess your symptoms and then give you the advice you need, or direct you straightaway to the best service for you in your area.
Sound advice
Use NHS 111 if you are unsure what to do next, have any questions about a condition or treatment or require information about local health services.
For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?
A&E departments provide vital care for life-threatening emergencies, such as loss of consciousness, suspected heart attacks, breathing difficulties, or severe bleeding that cannot be stopped. If you’re not sure it’s an emergency, call 111 for advice.