Abdominal Pain
Date issued: July 2023
Review date: July 2024
Ref: Ref: A-473/GS/child health/Abdominal pain v2
PDF: Abdominal pain patient final July 2023 v2.pdf[pdf] 148KB
Your child has been referred with abdominal pain……
Your child has been referred to us with abdominal pain (tummy pain). We will assess your child to see if we think there is a serious underlying cause. One of the common reasons children get referred to us is to see if they have appendicitis. This is inflammation of a small part of the bowel and it can be serious. Examining your child, and sometimes having blood tests and scans, will help us to decide if we think appendicitis is likely. The best way to prove if someone has appendicitis is to do an operation.
Unlike adults, a large proportion of tummy pain in children is unexplained and resolves by itself. Our job is to make sure that there is not a serious underlying cause that needs an operation or medicines. Often we do not get to the bottom of what caused it, but as long as it gets better we are satisfied.
Common causes of tummy pain in children:
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Urine infections.
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Constipation.
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Appendicitis.
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Mesenteric adenitis, this describes when the glands in the tummy are swollen due to another infection (usually viral) and cause pain.
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Gastroenteritis.
Investigations:
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Urine dipstick or test: this helps to rule out a urine infection.
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Blood tests: these look for markers of inflammation in the blood.
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Stool tests: can pick up some, but not all, tummy bugs.
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Ultrasound scan: this looks at the organs and bowels, but it is not a perfect test. Sometimes ultrasound can pick up appendicitis, but at other times it may not be possible to see the appendix well.
As doctors we use a combination of the history, examination, blood tests and scans to decide the likelihood of a child having appendicitis. If appendicitis is thought to be likely we will recommend out an operation to look inside the tummy and remove the appendix.
Using your open access:
When to come back
Seek advice if your child has…
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Unexplained high temperatures above 38oC.
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Green vomiting.
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Tummy pain getting progressively worse.
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Not taken adequate fluids.
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Not passed urine.
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Blood in their vomit or poo.
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Painful or swollen testicles.
Please do not hesitate to contact CAU within your 72 hours open access, or contact your health visitor or GP for further advice outside of this time.
72 hours open access
Your child has been given 72 hours open access to the children’s assessment unit.
This access enables you to contact a nurse/doctor if you are concerned about your child and need advice if the symptoms worsen or continue.
Advice is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 01752 430401 if within your 72 hours open access.
Should your child become unwell once the 72 hours open access has ended then please contact your GP or if necessary the Emergency Department.
