Abdominal Pain in Children: Care Instructions

How can you care for your child at home?

• Make sure your child rests.
• Give your child lots of fluids a little at a time. This is very important if your child is vomiting or has diarrhea. Give your child sips of water or drinks such as Pedialyte or Infalyte. These drinks contain a mix of salt, sugar, and minerals. You can buy them at drugstores or grocery stores. Give these drinks as long as your child is throwing up or has diarrhea. Do not use them as the only source of liquids or food for more than 12 to 24 hours.
• Start to offer small amounts of food when your child feels like eating.
• Have your child take medicines exactly as directed. Contact your doctor if you think your child is having a problem with a medicine.
• Do not give your child aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve). These can cause stomach upset.
• Do not give your child over-the-counter antidiarrhea or upset-stomach medicines without talking to your doctor first. Pepto-Bismol or other medicines may contain salicylates, a form of aspirin. Do not give aspirin to children and teens. Aspirin has been linked to Reye syndrome, a rare but serious illness.

When should you call for help?

Call 911 anytime you think your child may need emergency care. For example, call if:

• Your child passes out (loses consciousness).
• Your child has severe belly pain.
• Your child vomits blood or what looks like coffee grounds.
• Your child's stools are maroon or very bloody.

Contact your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:

• Your child's belly pain gets worse, especially if it becomes focused in one area of the belly.
• Your child has a new or higher fever.
• Your child has new or worse diarrhea or vomiting.
• Your child is dizzy or lightheaded, or feels about to faint.
• Your child's stools are black and look like tar or have streaks of blood.
• Your child has symptoms of a urinary tract infection. These may include:
  • Pain or burning when your child urinates.
  • A frequent need to urinate without being able to pass much urine.
  • Pain in the flank, which is just below the rib cage and above the waist on either side of the back.
  • Blood in your child’s urine.
  • A fever.

Watch closely for changes in your child's health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:

• Your child does not get better as expected.