Patient education: Abdominal pain in children – Discharge instructions (The Basics)

What are discharge instructions? — Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of your child after getting medical care for a health problem.

What is abdominal pain? — "Abdominal pain" means pain in the abdomen, or belly (figure 1). This is the part of the body between the chest and the pelvis.

Many things can cause abdominal pain. Common causes include a viral infection ("stomach bug") and constipation. In some cases, pain is related to a more serious condition, like appendicitis or a blockage in the intestine.

The following information is about caring for a child with belly pain that was not found to have a serious cause.

How do I care for my child at home? — Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure that you understand exactly what you need to do to care for your child. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.

You should also:

●Encourage your child to rest.

●Offer your child fluids if they have had vomiting or diarrhea. Start with small amounts. They can drink more as they start to feel better.

●Offer your child soft, bland foods when they feel like eating. Foods that are high in carbohydrates ("carbs"), like bread or saltine crackers, can help settle their stomach. Other good foods to eat are noodles, rice, oatmeal, soup, soft vegetables, fruits, or lean meats. Avoid foods and drinks with a lot of sugar, and anything else that makes pain worse.

●Make sure that your child drinks plenty of water if they are constipated. Prune, apple, or pear juice can also help. You can also increase fiber in their diet. Fiber can be found in certain fruits, vegetables, and grains.

●Talk to your child's doctor or nurse before giving your child any over-the-counter medicines or supplements.

What follow-up care does my child need? — The doctor or nurse will tell you if you need to make a follow-up appointment. If so, make sure that you know when and where to go.

When should I call the doctor? — Call for advice if:

●Your child's belly is very painful, hard, or swollen.

●Your child's pain is not gone or getting better in 1 to 2 days.

●Your child's pain gets worse, comes more often, or goes to 1 area of the belly.

●Your child has a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, chills, or pain when they urinate.

●Your child's bowel movements look red or black, or have blood in them.

●Your child's urine is red or brown.

●Your child vomits, and it is black (like coffee grounds), red, or yellow.

●Your child is having trouble eating normally.

●Your child is less active than normal.

●Your child has signs of fluid loss, like:

•Dry mouth

•Few or no tears when they cry

•Dark urine

More on this topic

Patient education: Abdominal pain (The Basics)
Patient education: Viral gastroenteritis in babies and children (The Basics)
Patient education: Stomach ache and stomach upset (The Basics)
Patient education: Constipation in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Food poisoning (The Basics)

Patient education: Constipation in infants and children (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Nausea and vomiting in infants and children (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Foodborne illness (food poisoning) (Beyond the Basics)