What to do if your toddler has a tummy ache

  Abdominal pain is one of the most common symptoms in the pediatric period. Because of their young age, babies cannot accurately describe the location and nature of abdominal pain, nor do they cooperate with the examination, but only show up as crying, with their legs curled up, or with their hands covering their stomachs, leaving parents worried and apprehensive, not knowing what to do.  There are many causes of abdominal pain in children, the vast majority of which are medical abdominal pain caused by improper diet, constipation stool irritation, postprandial activities, intestinal peristaltic disturbances and other factors. Give the appropriate etiology, symptomatic treatment, develop good eating habits, timely correction of indigestion, stool irritation can be laxative with open cork. Appropriate massage of the abdomen can help to divert the baby’s attention to relieve the pain. A small number of abdominal pain is surgical diseases such as acute appendicitis, intussusception, intestinal obstruction, necrotizing small intestine colitis, etc., abdominal pain is more intense, accompanied by vomiting fever, etc., need to immediately seek medical attention, part of the need for surgical treatment. If the abdominal pain is accompanied by a rash on the lower extremities, the abdominal pain may be caused by allergic purpura, which needs to be treated according to allergic purpura, and the abdominal pain will gradually get better. Babies with colds and fever accompanied by abdominal pain need to consider mesenteric lymphadenitis, and as the cold improves, the abdominal pain disappears with it. If the baby has a relaxed expression, soft tummy and moves freely, it may not be a big problem and parents can observe it for the time being, or whether it is relieved after laxative with a corker. If the child has a painful expression, fever and vomiting, it may be simple enteritis, or it may be acute appendicitis, peritonitis, etc. Abdominal pain and vomiting with bloody stools need to be considered intussusception.  Because there are many causes of abdominal pain and various comorbidities, parents should not blindly treat their children at home such as taking painkillers or applying hot compresses or massage if they do not know which disease it is, or if they find that their children are not in good spirits, but should seek medical examination in time.