Functional Abdominal Pain Child
Overview
Causes
Functional abdominal pain is likely caused by many factors, such as:
- Increased sensitivity to pressure from food and gas on the walls of the intestine
- Problems with how the bowels work
- Mental health problems, such as emotional stress
- Infections
The Intestines |
Copyright © 2002 Nucleus Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. |
Risk Factors
Some things that may raise the risk of functional abdominal pain are:
- A history of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse
- Stressful life events, such as being in the hospital or loss of a parent's job
- Depression or anxiety in the child or parent
- A parent with a history of gastrointestinal problems
SymptomsandDiagnosis
Symptoms
Symptoms vary from child to child. Pain may come and go or be steady. It may appear suddenly or slowly get worse over time.
Problems may be:
- Pain near the belly button or anywhere in the belly
- A burning feeling under the breastbone that is not from eating
- A feeling of fullness after a few bites of food
- Pain after bowel movements
Treatments
Treatment
Functional abdominal pain will often go away with time. The goal of treatment is to find and manage triggers. The overall goal is to return a child to normal activity. Options are:
Therapy
Emotions and stress can trigger abdominal pain or make it worse. Therapy can help a child manage stress and better cope with pain.
Medicine
Medicine may be used to ease symptoms. Options are:
- Acid reducers
- Intestinal muscle relaxers
- Bulk laxatives or medicine to stop diarrhea
- Probiotics to increase healthy bacteria
- Antidepressants
This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.
Edits to original content made by Denver Health.
Copyright © EBSCO Information Services
All rights reserved.