Is Child's Tummy Pain a Serious Concern? Poll Finds Many Parents Unsure
MONDAY, June 19, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Kids get a lot of tummy aches.
How a parent responds to it can vary, just as the causes can, according to the University of Michigan Health's C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health, which looked more closely at the issue.
About 1 in 6 parents said their child has tummy pain at least monthly, according to the poll, but many don’t call the doctor. One-third of the parents said that they were very confident they could identify whether the belly pain was serious.
“Tummy complaints are common among children. This type of pain may be a symptom for a range of health issues, but it can be difficult to know if it’s transient or a cause for concern,” said poll co-director and pediatrician Dr. Susan Woolford.
“Our poll suggests that despite benefits of seeking professional help, parents may not always consult with a doctor when determining whether belly pain is a sign of something serious and how to relieve it,” Woolford said in a Michigan Medicine news release.
The poll found that 2 in 5 five parents whose child experiences monthly belly pain have not talked to a doctor about it. Nearly one-third of parents said their child experiences belly pain a few times a year. More than half reported their child rarely or never complains of stomach issues.
Parents had varying opinions on the root causes of the pain.
About three-fourths of parents think the cause of the tummy pain is digestion or food-related, including gas, indigestion and constipation. Some think the cause is a virus or infection.
More than one-quarter of parents think worry, anxiety, trying to avoid school or hoping to get attention is behind the pain. This was a more common belief in parents of children aged 6 to 10 (34%) than those with kids aged 3 to 5 (20%).
When they believe worry or anxiety is the cause, most talk with their child about their feelings. Some help them with breathing or relaxation exercises or attempt to distract them. About 16% of parents allow their child to miss school or other activities related to their worry.
“This situation warrants parental attention as it may be a signal of important emotional health concerns for the child,” Woolford said. “Parents should give children a safe space to express their feelings and concerns, and help them identify potential stressors, such as school-related pressures, family issues or social challenges.”
While nearly one-third of parents are very likely to give an over-the-counter product when their child has belly pain, some products are less helpful than others, Woolford said.
The active ingredient in some upset stomach medications is bismuth, which slows down gut motility. This can shorten diarrhea, Woolford said, but it may slow the process of recovery from a viral infection and may trigger constipation in children.
“Parents will naturally want to help alleviate their child’s pain but they should understand the pros and cons of different remedies, to make sure medicine makes it better and not worse,” Woolford advised.
To gauge the cause of their child’s stomach pain, most parents have the kid describe it while less than half see if the child can continue with regular activities, has a temperature or describes improvement in pain from changing positions.
Reasons that parents would call their child’s doctor or seek emergency care include blood in the stool (84%) and sharp, knife-like pain (65%). About 64% would call if the pain continued for more the six hours, 63% if the belly is swollen and 49% if the belly is hard.
“In some cases, abdominal pain is an important sign of more serious problems such as appendicitis, bowel obstructions, urinary tract infections, and for boys, testicular problems such as hernias,” Woolford said. “Many parents polled weren’t confident they could recognize these situations. If a child is experiencing severe, frequent or disruptive pain, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and call the doctor.”
The poll received answers from more than 1,080 U.S. parents of children aged 3 to 10.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has more on abdominal pain in children.
SOURCE: Michigan Medicine, news release, June 19, 2023
Je, Maumivu ya Tumbo ya Mtoto Ni Jambo La Hangaiko? Uchunguzi wa Wazazi wengi unaonyesha kuwa hawajui Jumatatu, Juni 19, 2023 (Habari za HealthDay) - Watoto hupata maumivu mengi ya tumbo. "Kama vile wazazi wanavyoweza kuamua jinsi ya kukabiliana na tatizo hilo, ndivyo mambo yanavyobadilika, ""alisema C.S. Smith wa Chuo Kikuu cha Michigan." Uchunguzi wa Kitaifa wa Hospitali ya Watoto ya Mott juu ya Afya ya Watoto, ambayo ilitazama kwa karibu zaidi suala hilo. Karibu wazazi 1 kati ya 6 wanasema mtoto wao ana maumivu ya tumbo angalau mara moja kwa mwezi, kulingana na uchunguzi huo, lakini wengi hawaiti daktari. "Tatu ya wazazi waliamini kwamba wanaweza kutambua kama maumivu ya tumbo ni ""kubwa.""" <unk>Maskini ni jambo la kawaida miongoni mwa watoto. Aina hii ya maumivu inaweza kuwa dalili ya masuala mbalimbali ya afya, lakini inaweza kuwa vigumu kujua kama ni ya muda mfupi au sababu ya wasiwasi, "alisema poll co-mkurugenzi na daktari wa watoto Dk Susan Woolford. "Uchunguzi wetu unaonyesha kwamba licha ya faida za kutafuta msaada wa kitaalamu, wazazi wanaweza kuwa hawajadili daktari wakati wa kuamua kama maumivu ya tumbo ni ishara ya kitu kikubwa na jinsi ya kuondoa", Woolford alisema katika taarifa ya habari ya Michigan Medicine." Uchunguzi huo ulionyesha kwamba wazazi wawili kati ya watano ambao watoto wao wanapata maumivu ya tumbo kila mwezi hawajawahi kuzungumza na daktari kuhusu tatizo hilo. Karibu thuluthi moja ya wazazi walisema kwamba mtoto wao hupata maumivu ya tumbo mara chache kwa mwaka. Zaidi ya nusu waliripoti kwamba mtoto wao hajalalamika mara nyingi au kamwe kuhusu matatizo ya tumbo. Wazazi walikuwa na maoni tofauti-tofauti juu ya kisababishi kikuu cha maumivu hayo. Zaidi ya asilimia 3 ya wazazi wanaamini kuwa sababu ya maumivu ya tumbo ni digestive au chakula, ikiwa ni pamoja na gesi, upungufu wa kumeng'enya chakula na constipation. Wengine hufikiri kwamba kisababishi ni virusi au maambukizo. Zaidi ya robo ya wazazi wanafikiri kuwa wasiwasi, wasiwasi, kujaribu kuepuka shule au matumaini ya kupata tahadhari ni nyuma ya maumivu. Hii ni imani ya kawaida zaidi katika wazazi wa watoto wenye umri wa miaka 6 hadi 10 (34%) kuliko wale walio na watoto wenye umri wa miaka 3 hadi 5 (20%). Wakati wanaamini kuwa wasiwasi au wasiwasi ndio sababu, wengi huzungumza na mtoto wao kuhusu hisia zao. Wengine huwasaidia kwa mazoezi ya kupumua au ya kupumzika au hujaribu kuwapunguza fikira. Zaidi ya asilimia 16 ya wazazi wanamruhusu mtoto wao kukosa shule au shughuli nyingine zinazohusiana na wasiwasi wao. "Hali hii inahitaji uangalifu wa wazazi kwani inaweza kuwa ishara ya wasiwasi muhimu wa afya ya kihisia kwa mtoto", Woolford alisema. "Wazazi wanapaswa kuwapa watoto nafasi salama ya kuelezea hisia zao na wasiwasi, na kuwasaidia kutambua visababishi vya mkazo vinavyoweza kutokea, kama vile shinikizo la shule, matatizo ya familia au changamoto za kijamii,"" alisema Woolford." Kiungo kinachofanya kazi katika dawa fulani za kuumiza tumbo ni bismuth, ambayo hupunguza mwendo wa matumbo. "Hii inaweza kupunguza kuhara, ""Wolford alisema, lakini inaweza kupunguza mchakato wa kupona kutoka kwa maambukizo ya virusi na inaweza kusababisha uvimbe kwa watoto." "Kwa kawaida wazazi watataka kusaidia kupunguza maumivu ya mtoto wao lakini wanapaswa kuelewa faida na hasara za tiba tofauti, ili kuhakikisha dawa inafanya iwe bora na sio mbaya zaidi", Woolford alishauri. Ili kujua sababu ya maumivu ya tumbo ya mtoto, wazazi wengi huwauliza mtoto kuelezea, wakati chini ya nusu huona ikiwa mtoto anaweza kuendelea na shughuli za kawaida, ana joto au anaelezea uboreshaji wa maumivu kutokana na kubadilisha nafasi. Sababu za wazazi kuwaita madaktari wa mtoto wao au kutafuta huduma ya dharura ni pamoja na damu katika stool (84%) na maumivu makali, kama kisu (65%). Asilimia 64 ya wagonjwa walipiga simu ikiwa maumivu yaliendelea kwa zaidi ya saa sita, asilimia 63 ikiwa tumbo lilikuwa limevimba na asilimia 49 ikiwa tumbo lilikuwa gumu. "Katika baadhi ya visa, maumivu ya tumbo ni ishara muhimu ya matatizo makubwa kama vile appendicitis, vizuizi vya matumbo, maambukizo ya njia za mkojo, na kwa wavulana, matatizo ya testicular kama vile hernia, "Woolford alisema. <unk>Wazazi wengi waliohojiwa hawakuwa na uhakika kwamba wangeweza kutambua hali hizi. Ikiwa mtoto ana maumivu makali, ya mara kwa mara au ya kuvuruga, ni bora kuwa mwangalifu na kumwita daktari. Uchunguzi huo ulipata majibu kutoka kwa wazazi zaidi ya 1,080 wa Marekani wenye watoto wenye umri wa miaka 3 hadi 10. Chuo cha Marekani cha Pediatrics kina habari zaidi kuhusu maumivu ya tumbo kwa watoto. "Mwanzoni mwa wiki hii, ""Michigan Medicine"" ilitoa taarifa ya habari ya Juni 19, 2023."