How To Soothe A Childs Stomach Ache
Stomach aches are common in children. Whether its from indigestion, constipation, or even a viral infection, most stomach aches in kids are not serious and symptoms will usually resolve on their own.
You can try soothing your childs stomach ache with one of these home remedies:
- Make your child lie face down and let them rest until their stomach pain resolves.
- Apply a warm compress or heating pad on their stomach.
- If the stomach ache is caused by spicy food, try giving them vanilla ice cream.
- If the stomach ache is caused by constipation, try giving them yogurt.
- Give them sips of warm water to drink.
- Avoid carbonated, caffeinated, fatty, or sweetened liquids, such as sodas, tea, coffee, milk, and sports drinks.
- If your child asks for a soft drink, choose one without caffeine. Shake the fizz out before serving.
- Initially, put your child on a liquid diet. Offer them clear fluids, such as water, fruit juices mixed with water, ginger ale, or a simple broth.
- As the pain starts to go away, you can introduce bland foods to your childs diet, such as plain bread, dry toast, rice, banana, and saltine crackers.
- Encourage them to go to the bathroom for bowel movements.
- Fennel seed and simethicone drops may be available over-the-counter. You can try giving your child these drops in a recommended dose.
- Do not give your child pain medications without asking your childs pediatrician first.
Is It Always Necessary To Take Medications And Pills For Stomach Pain
After an evaluation, it must be your doctor who decides which medications are necessary for your stomach pain. In the case of children, the drugs are the same as for adults, but their doses and presentations vary.
On the other hand, the amount of body water in children is lower, so theyre also more prone to dehydration. Because on this, special caution should be taken when dealing with diarrhea in children.
Many times, stomach pain improves when simple, everyday measures are taken. Its good to opt for a diet free of processed sugars and high-fat foods, in addition to avoiding alcoholic or carbonated beverages like soft drinks.
Finally, if the discomfort is persistent and does not improve with changes in your eating habits, then its important that you consult a doctor.
Reviewed and approved bythe doctor.
When To Seek Professional Help For Upset Stomach
If your stomach ache is persistent with no signs of improvement and lasts for more than several days, it is time to get professional help as this may be a sign of a more serious ailment that requires immediate medical attention.
Sudden and severe stomach aches can be the root cause of serious problems that may worsen if medical help is not sought immediately. You should see your doctor immediately, especially if the pain has been concentrated in a single area. Some of the reasons for stomach ache are as follows:
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Disclaimer: The information included at this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a health care professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the readers situation.
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Natural Stomach Ache Remedies
Tea Chamomile, peppermint and ginger teas are great options to help calm a restless stomach. Add a little honey, and kids will be more likely to take a sip.
Heat Drawing a warm bath for kids when they have an upset stomach is another solution. The warmth of the water helps relax them and eases their discomfort.
Essential oils Essential oils can help relieve many day-to-day discomforts, tummies included. Peppermint oil or ginger oils work well. Lavender and cinnamon oils are also good options.
Fiber Chronic stomachaches might be a result of constipation. Adjust the diet by eliminating dairy and increasing high-fiber vegetables. Items like prunes, raisins and apricots help people go easier. And dont forget to make sure you or your kiddos are drinking lots of water!
BRAT Conversely, if you dont suspect constipation, the BRAT diet can help with symptoms of nausea or diarrhea. BRAT stands for banana, rice, applesauce and toast. All of these foods are low in fiber but high binding, making them especially helpful when a child is making many trips to the restroom or when eating, in general, sounds unappetizing.
Dr. Horton cautions that natural remedies might not be the right long-term treatment depending on where the pain is coming from. Before taking over-the-counter supplements or naturopathic remedies, he encourages patients to talk with their doctor to review the options before starting anything.
Shoot Apple Cider Vinegar Mixed With Water
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Apple cider vinegar is one of the great neutralizers. Made by fermenting the sugar from apples, ACV promotes alkalinity, and, in turn, alleviates nausea. It can also reduce gas and bloating, and mitigate heartburn.
Mix a tablespoon of ACV into room-temperature water. If you cant tolerate the sour flavor, use less water, hold your nose so you cant taste it, and shoot the mixture back in a few seconds. If you enjoy the flavor, use more water and sip it at your leisure.
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When Should I See My Healthcare Provider About My Abdominal Pain
Always see your doctor if your pain is unexplained, persistent or severe, or if you have been injured or are pregnant.
Also, see your doctor if your pain is accompanied by any of these symptoms:
- Persistent fever.
- Blood in your stools, urine or vomit.
- Swelling and tenderness to the touch.
- Pain in any other part of your body.
- Shortness of breath or symptoms that get worse with exertion.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
So many things can cause abdominal pain that its inevitable well all experience it from time to time. Common causes, such as gas and indigestion, menstrual cramps, or even food poisoning and the flu may be instantly recognizable. Other causes may be more mysterious. And sometimes stomach pain is a sign of an unsuspected or serious condition.
Your healthcare provider will always be interested in your abdominal pain, especially if its unexplained. Common causes are often easy to treat, and having your condition diagnosed can help you find relief. Even if your stomach pain is mild, make sure you see your healthcare provider if it doesnt go away, keeps coming back or gets worse.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 04/18/2022.
References
When To See A Healthcare Provider
If your stomachache is accompanied by any of the following symptoms, you should see your healthcare provider:
- Nausea and vomiting for several days
- Significant abdominal tenderness
- Pain persists for several days
- Signs of dehydration
Any of the aforementioned symptoms signal something may be wrong, such as an infection or illness, that requires medical attention.
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Apply Peppermint Essential Oil To The Abdomen
Like the benefits that ginger and apple cider vinegar offer, peppermint essential oil acts in a similar way. If you dont have ginger or ACV on hand when a stomachache hits but peppermint oil in your cabinets, this can be a great way to help relive the pain.
Peppermint offers a number of digestive health benefits, most notably it can help to reduce muscle spasms in the gastric lining and colon.
Mix a few drops of peppermint essential oil with a carrier oil like fractionated coconut oil and rub across your abdomen wherever discomfort is occurring.
If you dont have peppermint oil but you have peppermint tea, this can be equally beneficial and soothing to drink.
Pills For Stomach Pain: Antidiarrheals
Antidiarrheal drugs work like pills for stomach pain by stopping the effects of diarrhea. They inhibit the motility of the intestine, which increases the permanence of feces in the intestinal lumen, favoring its hardening.
Theyre not often recommended by doctors, since in case of diarrhea, only general measures are recommended, such as staying hydrated with lots of water, rehydration salts, and home remedies, in addition to an antidiarrheal diet.
However, when a doctor does recommend them, they may recommended one of the following:
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How Is Abdominal Pain Treated
The treatment of abdominal pain will depend on its underlying cause.
Mild abdominal pain may go away on its own within hours or days. Mild pain and related symptoms can also often be treated with medicines from the pharmacy. Your pharmacist will be able to advise you on what type of product is best suited to your situation.
You should not use aspirin or anti-inflammatory medicines, such as ibuprofen, to treat abdominal pain, other than period pain. These medicines may cause or irritate a stomach or bowel problem.
If you are treating mild abdominal pain with a known cause at home:
- use a hot water bottle or warm wheat pack on your abdomen
- eat bland foods when you can start eating again, or as advised by your doctor
Specific treatments, depending on the cause of your abdominal pain, include the following:
Gas Medicines designed to break down gas bubbles, such as antacids containing simethicone, are available over the counter. Gas-reducing medicines such as charcoal products, may help with ongoing wind problems. Dietary changes may also help. An Accredited Practising Dietitian or your doctor can help with dietary advice.
Gastroenteritis This usually only lasts a few days and clears up by itself. Rehydrating by drinking plenty of clear fluids is the most important treatment.
Pain due to muscle spasms Spasms in the wall of the bowel may be eased by antispasmodic medicines. Several are available, so talk to your pharmacist or doctor about which are right for you.
Yogurt To Relieve Stomach Pain
Plain, unsweetened yogurt containing probiotics, or active cultures, may help with stomach pains as it promotes proper digestion. These work to increase the good bacteria needed to relieve indigestion, bloating, and painful discomfort in the gut.
Consuming plain, unsweetened yogurt throughout the day may reduce stomach pain episodes.
Use the following recipe to create a drinkable form of this remedy.
- Combine two tablespoons of plain unsweetened yogurt, 1 cup of water and a pinch of salt.
- Add three teaspoons of fresh coriander juice.
- Mix in one-half teaspoon of cardamom powder.
- Mix well and drink one hour after each meal.
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Chronic Abdominal Pain Symptoms
Symptoms of chronic abdominal pain vary from patient to patient, and they may change with each episode. The most common symptoms include:
- Sharp or dull pain
- Severe pain that causes you to become sweaty, cry or bend over in pain
- Pain that lasts a few minutes or hours
- Pain in the belly button area or anywhere in the belly
- Pain that may or may not be related to eating
- Pain that occurs any time of the day or night
- Abdominal pain that occurs with vomiting, headaches, or pain in the arms or legs
- Not being hungry like usual or skipping meals, usually without losing weight
Symptoms that require a doctors immediate attention include a high fever, loss of appetite or weight, pain that awakens the person, blood in stool or urine, jaundice, severe nausea and vomiting, difficulty swallowing, and swelling of the legs or abdomen.
Stimulants For Intestinal Motility
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These pills for stomach pain are used when the origin of the discomfort is constipation, slowing of gastric emptying , or is in the presence of reflux and vomiting.
They accelerate gastrointestinal transit so that the contents remain less time in contact with the gastric and intestinal walls. These medications include domperidone, metoclopramide, and cisapride.
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When To See A Doctor About Abdominal Pain
Go straight to your doctor or the emergency department of the nearest hospital if you have any of the following:
- pain lasting for several hours
- pain or vaginal bleeding if you are pregnant
- pain in your scrotum if you are a male
- pain and vomiting or shortness of breath
- pain and vomiting blood
- blood in your bowel motions or urine
- pain that spreads to your chest, neck or shoulder
- unable to move your bowels or pass gas
- any other concerns.
When Should I See My Doctor
In some cases, you should seek urgent medical attention or consult a doctor if you have abdominal pain.
If you have a sudden, severe, incapacitating pain in your abdomen, go immediately to your nearest emergency department or call triple zero and ask for an ambulance.
You should also seek urgent medical attention if you have pain that:
- is severe and/or getting worse
- has lasted for several hours or more
- wakes you from sleep
- is spreading to your neck, chest or shoulders
- makes it difficult to swallow
Urgent medical attention is also required if you have abdominal pain accompanied by
- unexplained weight loss
- skin that appears yellow
If you are experiencing pain high up in your abdomen that is made worse by exercise it could be angina or a heart attack. If you, or someone near you is experiencing symptoms of a heart attack, call triple zero immediately and ask for an ambulance.
If you are pregnant and experiencing abdominal pain, check with your doctor or midwife. Abdominal pains are common in pregnancy, but should always be checked out.
If your abdominal pain does not match the situations above, but it is recurrent or persistent , or it started mild but is worsening, you should still consult a doctor.
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Have A Warming Cup Of Bone Broth
Similar to aloe juice, bone broth offers numerous benefits to our digestion. Not only is it potentially anti-inflammatory, its also extremely healing.
Bone broth is rich in both collagen and gelatin, which help to repair damage to cells. If you eat a nutrient-poor diet, have a known digestive health condition, or have taken medications that may have compromised the integrity of the digestive tract, cellular damage may have occurred and bone broth is a great way to begin repairing.
At the onset of a stomachache, drink 1 cup of warm bone broth and take a few deep breaths.
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Best Home Remedies For Upset Stomach
Upset stomach or indigestion is very common nowadays! Everyone suffers from this one or another day. Also, there is nothing more uncomfortable than an upset stomach. This feeling of stomach discomfort increased now may be due to lack of physical activity. The covid-19 pandemic has given a sudden break to our life including our physical activity. The new culture of work disturbed our daily routine somehow. That is one of the causes that most of us facing stomach upset problem daily basis.
In medical terms, an upset stomach is also called dyspepsia that describes discomfort in your upper abdomen. An upset stomach is not a disorder but a bunch of digestive disorder symptoms that make you uncomfortable. It can also be a symptom of another digestive tract disease.
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Give Yourself An Abdominal Massage
If your stomachache is due to constipation, giving yourself a gentle abdominal massage can help move things along and relieve the blockage that may be causing the stomachache.
Massaging this area lightly with your forefinger and middle finger in a clockwise motion stimulates muscle contractions and helps break up food that may be stuck in the intestines, either due to overeating, not chewing thoroughly, dehydration, or a lack of enzymes or acid to break down the food in the first place.
Of course, all of these potential inhibitors to digestion should be addressed but massaging can be a quick way to get things moving along and relieve the stomachache in the moment.
How Do You Relieve Stomach Pain Without Medication
- Answer #1
Not sure if you count this as proper medication, can you can get pills which are pure charcoal, assuming your stomach ache is caused by something bad inside your stomach, then the charcoal in a way ‘eats up’ the bad stuff. A side effect is that it also ‘eats up’ good stuff, but good stuff I mean like nutrients which are still in your stomach, so avoid eating anything healthy before and after taking one.
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This sounds kinda weird but it works for me when I don’t have midol. Lay down on your back & like, roll your wrists on each side of the edge of your rib cage in a circle kinda motion, I don’t know how to explain it. DxOrrrrr eating bananas.
Herbal/chamomile tea with a spoon of honey. Try lying down on your stomach for a little while. Put a heatpad on your stomach. If your stomach is still bothering you, drink some Sprite or 7 Up.
lmaooo well it works(: the more I complain the more it hurts or the more I cry the more it hurts what ever you do just say that & it will go away if not then just breath (:
this works for me all the time get a hot water bottle thing..fill it with hot water and lay down on ur side jst leaning on it a bit…it helps alot!
Lie on your side and ben your knees, that ussually helps a lot.You can also try to rub it with oil, I know it sounds wierd but it helps.
It is like saying, pain is on your mind 🙂
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