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Abdominal Pain Relief
My 5 year old daughter has constant lower abdominal pain. She can even have her pants set on it. She has a bit bigger belly and we have tried everything to help her bloating, aches and gas. Is there anything to help her swollen tummy? She does eat well.
( 2 Feb 2010)
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Lower left abdominal pain in children is a very common ailment. In the majority of the cases, the pain is harmless, but persistent pain may indicate some serious condition. Probable lower abdominal pain causes are:
- Gastroenteritis: When a virus enters the intestinal tract in children, it may cause infection leading to pain, vomiting, and fever.
This can be one of the common reasons for lower abdominal pain.
- Constipation: Constipation could also be one of the major reasons for lower left abdominal pain in children. This pain is not associated with vomiting or fever.
- Trauma: Trauma may lead to pain in the lower left side of the abdomen. Trauma may be caused when an object hits the stomach of a child which results in abdominal pain.
- Gas: This may be one of the major causes for abdominal pain in children. Gas may result from improper chewing of food, fatty foods and consuming gas producing foods such as beans or lentils. Some children may be sensitive to some foods which may cause gas. Gastric intolerance may occur if the body is unable to breakdown foods. If you notice that the child feels uncomfortable after consuming dairy products it shows lactose intolerance. He or she will experience bloating if he/she consumes any dairy product such as cheese, milk or milk products. If your child has lactose intolerance he/she should stop consuming dairy products completely or should take lactapid pills before consuming any dairy product. Your child may also have intolerance to yeast or gluten which may lead to lower abdominal pain. The exact cause should be recognized and your child should be stopped from consuming those food products. If lower left abdominal pain in children is associated with some other symptoms such as blood in the stool or fever, you should consult a pediatrician immediately, because the condition may be more severe than normal gas pains.
Inflammatory bowel disease, infections in the intestine or kidneys and urinary tract infection can be other reason for lower left abdominal pain in children. It is advisable to take antibiotics to treat these disorders and follow a proper diet plan. Improper digestion leads to these digestion problems and if left untreated for long, it could lead to severe complications.
When your child is suffering from abdominal pain you should never force your child to eat anything; instead you should give him/her fluids which would help in digesting food. Provide a balanced diet to children with abdominal pain and give small meals six times a day instead of giving three large meals a day. Avoid giving foods which may cause bloating and flatulence.
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answered by G M on 13 Aug 2010, 4:03:10
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Abdominal pain is a problem commonly faced by small children. In most cases, the reasons behind pain and swelling in the lower abdomen relate to digestive disorders, such as constipation, formation of gas, food allergies, lactose intolerance, indigestion and heartburn, irritable bowel syndrome and peptic ulcers. The symptoms may also be caused by more serious ailments like urinary tract infections and appendicitis. If the condition is accompanied by symptoms like gradual and unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite, frequent nausea and vomiting, recurrent fever and diarrhea, and painful urination then you must consult a doctor immediately.
You should closely observe what the child eats and check if the symptoms appear after she eats certain kinds of food items. Intolerance or allergic reaction towards eggs, milk and dairy products, rye and barley, confectionaries and very hot or cold foodstuff may be responsible for the problem. Do not give the child very oily or spicy food to eat, as this tends to irritate and erode the mucus membrane lining the digestive tract and cause hyperacidity and gas formation in the stomach, which lead to abdominal pain and swelling. Never overfeed the child or make her drink too much water during or immediately after a meal. You should also keep your child on a cleansing diet for about a week. Begin with only unsweetened fruit juices. A solution of orange juice and tepid water mixed in equal quantities is recommended. Following this, introduce fresh fruits like papaya, grapes, apples, watermelon, and pears in the child’s diet for a couple of days. You may also give the child boiled or steamed vegetables to eat. Finally, include lightly cooked vegetables, cereals and pulses in her diet. A mild water enema may also be useful in cleansing the child’s digestive tract completely during this special diet. Once all the toxic wastes and accumulated feces have been flushed out of the system, the child will get some relief from the pain and swelling in the abdomen. You may also follow a few simple home remedies to treat the condition naturally. Mix a teaspoon each of raw ginger juice and honey and administer this mixture to the child orally twice every day. This kills microbes that may be causing infections in the digestive tract and relieves abdominal pain and bloating. Another useful remedy is to add a teaspoon of the juice of fresh coriander leaves into a small cup of buttermilk and make the child drink this infusion twice every day.
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answered by G M on 2 Feb 2010, 4:54:19
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