Abdominal pain is a frequent complaint in children and can present in different ways depending on the child’s age. While toddlers may describe their discomfort simply as a “tummy ache,” school-age children and teenagers might give more specific descriptions. Although abdominal pain is common, it rarely indicates a serious condition. However, there are certain warning signs that parents should watch out for, such as diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, poor growth, night awakenings due to pain, or rectal bleeding. These symptoms may suggest a more serious underlying issue.

When these warning signs are absent, abdominal pain is often categorized as Functional Abdominal Pain, which may be related to conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

For further reading, check out these helpful resources:

• NY Times Article about Recurrent Abdominal Pain
• Functional Abdominal Pain by GI Kids (PDF en Español)