“My daughter is 6yrs old…Over the last 10mths my daughter has had stomach/abdo pains. Starting at belly button across to her right side. I thought it may be appendix… if it is possible at her age to have appendicitis? ” [my note: long story redacted here]
Short Answer: It is possible for a 6 year old to have appendicitis — but very unlikely for 10 months.
Chronic abdominal pain in children is common, and there are many, many, many reasons besides appendicitis.
So, back to the GP and work with your doctor. This will also take some thinking on your part to help your doctor. When is the pain the worst? What makes it better? What makes it worse? Does it interfere with sleeping? With playing? Any other symptoms? Your doctor will ask about her stool: how frequently? Hard or soft? (Not sure about how to describe your child’s stools? Never fear! Try using the Bristol Stool Chart!) Difficult to pass? Is the pain related to when she needs to pass urine?
What things will your doctor be thinking about?
The commonest cause for this is constipation, accounting for around 13% of children who present with ongoing abdo pain with no other worrying features like fever or weight loss. These children inevitably end up in hospital and see a doctor like me. And every single time, without fail, the mothers tell us the child isn’t constipated. We always do get there in the end.
There are many other common and easily treatable things that should be thought of, including anxiety, heartburn/reflux or urinary tract problems.
Less likely but commonly blamed? Food intolerances. If you suspect a true food allergy or intolerance, ask your GP for a referral to a a CORU-registered/INDI-registered dietitian and appropriate paediatric specialist. I say it alot here, but can’t say it enough: Diets excluding foods like dairy or gluten are not safe for children unless they are under the guidance of a specialist: A “nutritionist”, chiropractor, kinesthesiologist, or osteopath is not qualified to recommend dietary changes in an infant or child, which was the driving force behind CORU-registration.
If your GP can’t get to the bottom of it, s/he will probably refer you to for a consultant opinion.
For other mammies, when should you urgently book GP appointment for ongoing abdo pain in your child?
Chronic severe or bloody diarrhoea
Unexplained fever
pain or trouble passing urine
Back pain with the tummy pain
Family history of inflammatory bowel disease
Black, tarry stools
New rash with tummy pain
tummy pain with new ulcers in the mouth
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