Dr. Sharifa Al-Ghamdi - Consultant in Gastroenterology. Recurrent abdominal pain is a common condition and is seen in more than 10% of preschool and school age children. Pain before the age of two years is accompanied by an organic cause in most cases when it does not constitute that. And there is a possibility that children who complain of stomach pain for a period of more than three months will develop functional pain in the abdomen

A functional term indicates that there is no clear explanation for the pain even after many medical examinations. There are no reasons for this pain related to age, irritation or exposure to infection, but the pain remains very real and because of the pain, children may stop performing their usual activities and suffer from nausea. Diarrhea or constipation.

Fortunately, children continue to grow normally and remain in generally good health despite chronic pain.

The phenomenon of chronic abdominal pain is a very common phenomenon, if between 10% - 15% of children who are in the school year suffer from frequent abdominal pain attacks.

Another 15% of patients suffer from pain, but they do not return to the doctor''s office.

the reasons

In the intestine there is a complex system of nerves and muscles that help move food forward and carry out the digestive process.

In some children, these nerves become very sensitive and these children suffer from pain even during the normal activity of the intestines.

The pain may make your baby cry, make his face pale or red, and he may sweat.

Inflammation of viral or bacterial origin may make the intestinal nerves more sensitive.

Other family members of the patient may experience a similar problem.

The diagnosis

Having accurate information about how, where and how the pain started and how it developed can contribute to diagnosing the child''s problem.

The child''s blood, urine and stool sample is analyzed in order to rule out some conditions that may be associated with recurring pain.

Also, by knowing the child''s tolerance to certain foods, such as dairy products or juices, the cause of cramping pain and excessive gas formation can be explained.

A plain x-ray, a CT scan, and an endoscopy is only recommended when the result of the clinical examination or the child''s medical history raises questions about the diagnosis.

treatment

The pain improves in the child if he is able to change his diet or if he spends a quiet night and the intensity of his stress can be reduced.

The child should continue his normal life as much as possible.

As for the use of medications in cases of functional abdominal pain, this needs to be discussed with the doctor. In this case, muscle relaxants, antacid drugs, or medicinal fibers can be prescribed for some children.