Tummy ache in children is common. Most children do not require treatment and the pain will get better by itself.
- Common causes of tummy ache include constipation, a water works infection (urinary tract infection) and tummy bugs (gastroenteritis).
- Less common causes include appendicitis. Most children with chronic abdominal pain never have a cause found.
In this video a GP and health visitor talk about what they would look out for in a child with abdominal pain:
When should I worry and what should I do?
Call 999 or go to A&E now if your child:
- Becomes pale and floppy
- Becomes drowsy or difficult to wake
- Vomits with blood (bright red or dark brown) or bile (dark green – the colour of spinach or sprouts)
- Develops severe pain despite pain relief such as paracetamol and ibuprofen
- Has testicular pain in boys
Call 111 or ask for an urgent GP appointment if your child:
- Develops a swollen tummy
- Has blood in their poo or wee
- Experiences constant pain for more than 1 day despite painkillers
- Has a fever or symptoms continuing for more than 5 days
- Becomes increasingly thirsty or is weeing significantly more or less than normal
- Develops yellow skin or eyes
- Has weight loss
Get general advice on the NHS website or from your local Pharmacy if your child:
- Develops diarrhoea and vomiting but none of the above symptoms
- Experiences pain associated with menstruation in a girl (periods)
- Is frequently constipated
Self-care
- Offer your child a normal diet and plenty of fluids
- Give them pain relief such as paracetamol (calpol) and/or ibuprofen
- If their pain is not controlled with simple pain relief, if they develop jaundice (yellow skin or eyes), have a swollen tummy, are peeing more or less than usual or have blood in their poo or wee, you should arrange for them to be seen urgently by a medical practitioner. Call your GP surgery or NHS 111.
- If your child also has runny poos (diarrhoea), try to avoid them getting dehydrated (see diarrhoea and vomiting information sheet).
How long will your child’s symptoms last?
- The duration of your child’s symptoms will depend on the cause of their abdominal pain
- If they are constipated, their pain may improve once they have had a poo
- If they have gastroenteritis, it may last several days
Where should you seek help?
- If it is non-urgent, speak to your local pharmacist or health visitor
- Or contact you GP practice and a qualified member of the clinical team will assess if your child needs to be seen urgently. For an urgent out-of-hours GP appointment, call NHS 111
- You should only call 999 or go your nearest A&E department in critical or life threatening situations