Abdominal Pain, Age 11 And Younger: Check Your Symptoms

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When to See a Doctor

Has your child had a recent injury to the abdomen?

See significance of an injury if you need information to help you answer the questions below.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your child's symptoms.

Call your child's health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Note:

Do not allow your child to eat or drink until you have talked with your child's health professional.

Yes

Has your child had any bleeding from the rectum, urethra, or vagina that started after an injury to the abdomen?

Yes

Does pressing on your child's abdomen cause severe pain?

Yes

Is your child's abdomen swollen or hard (rigid) to the touch?

Yes

Has your child's pain localized below the right or left ribs?

Yes

Has your child had an abdominal wound that penetrated deeper than a scratch?

Yes

Do you think your child's injury was intentionally caused by another person?

Call your child's health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Note:

Do not allow your child to eat, and allow only sips of clear liquids until you have talked with your child's health professional.

Yes

Has your child vomited more than one time following an injury to the abdomen?

Yes

Does your child still have pain when pressing on the abdomen 1 hour after an injury?

You may wait to see if your child's symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Has your child had nausea or has he or she vomited one time in the last 24 hours?

Yes

Is your child less hungry than normal in the last 24 hours?

Yes

Has your child had an ongoing mild stomachache for 24 hours but no other symptoms?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Last updated:	February 16, 2007
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics, Thomas Emmett Francoeur, MDCM, CSPQ, FRCPC - Pediatrics
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer