Children complain of stomachaches for several reasons.

• to stall bedtime
• to avoid school
• ate too much food
• medical problems

Recurrent stomachache is common but usually not serious. In some cases, no physical cause can be found. This pain is termed non functional or non specific pain. This could mean it is possibly  related to emotional stress.Spasm in the digestive tract can sometimes cause pains. A crying infant can sometimes swallow air which can cause  stomach discomfort. You have to know that pain can be real even though there is no obvious cause.

What are some of the causes of stomachaches in children

Some of the causes of stomachaches in children include the following :

• constipation
• urinary tract infections
• appendicitis
• strep throat
• milk allergy
• lactose intolerance
• emotional upset especially in school aged children

When to call your pediatrician

You should contact your doctor if abdominal pain is accompanied by symptoms such as

• vomiting
• change  in bowel movement
• fever
• sore throat
• headache

Even if you don’t find any physical cause, it needs  to be given attention. You also need to call your doctor right away if your baby is less than 1 year old and show signs of stomachache such as

• legs pulled up towards the abdomen
• unusual crying

Call your doctor if the child is 4 years or  younger and have stomachache that wakes her up at night or if the pain prevents her from getting any sleep.