Functional Abdominal Pain In Children – I’m A Mom
If your child frequently suffers from bowel pain and you can’t find any apparent cause for their discomfort, this may be the case for functional abdominal pain in children. It is so called because it is not caused by a digestive disease or any other medical problem or medical condition, but it can disrupt daily life.
What is functional abdominal pain in children?
There is no absolute certainty about the cause of this condition, but it is considered to be due to a malfunction between the intestine and the nervous system, and even the immune system, in stressful situations or hypersensitivity to pain.
Recurrent abdominal pain is defined as two or more episodes of abdominal pain over a 3-month period. Also, it must be significant enough pain to interfere with normal activity.
There are data published by Scient Direct that 10 to 15% of the school-age population has it and that its peak incidence is between 5 and 8 years old, and then reappears in adolescence.
How is functional abdominal pain diagnosed in children?
The diagnosis itself is complicated, as it is important to rule out any possible pathology, such as irritable bowel syndrome, functional dyspepsia or abdominal migraine, in addition to any type of food intolerance. In these cases, it is necessary to apply a specific treatment.
It is necessary to investigate an event that may have caused stress, such as tests, changes, death of a loved one, parents’ divorce, etc. , as this can affect the digestive system, irritating it and causing more or less severe pain.
Dangerous Signs
To begin with, your child will have a physical examination to determine their weight and general health. During abdominal palpation, it will be possible to determine if there is tension, gas, inflammation, etc.
On the other hand, it is important to keep in mind some signs that the pain is not functional but may be caused by some illness. It is important to discuss the following signs with your pediatrician:
- Fever without apparent cause
- Weight loss
- Anus injuries
- stool with traces of blood
- frequent diarrhea
- Changes in growth
- abdominal pain on the right side
- persistent vomiting
- Family history of any bowel disease, ulcer, celiac disease, etc.
Treatment for Functional Abdominal Pain
This type of pain, as you’ve seen, doesn’t refer to any preoccupying situation or underlying a serious problem, but it can be more or less intense. Therefore, the use of any medication will always be subject to the decision of a specialist, with paracetamol being quite effective.
Also, there are some remedies that can help relieve abdominal pain in children, such as massaging the area or applying heat. Occasionally, psychological therapy to help manage stress may be necessary.
How to talk to children about it?
The goal is not to let them think it’s all in their head, as this could make them feel even worse. But you need to make it clear that they don’t need to worry and that they can learn to manage their pain.
Children must understand that they do not have any illnesses, even if their symptoms are real. Explain that they are being cared for and that many children go through the same process.
As you have seen, functional abdominal pain in children is quite common, and although there is usually no need for concern, it is advisable to observe and rule out possible pathologies together with your doctor. These symptoms usually disappear with growth.
