What Causes Intermittent Sharp Pain In The Abdomen Of A Child?

Posted on Wed, 26 Jul 2017

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 26 Jul 2017 Answered on

Thu, 17 Aug 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : My 5 year old daughter has intermittent sharp pain on her right side of her abdomen since Sunday evening. it lasts for about 15 minutes - she has to lay down or sit down - then it goes away and she is either tired after that or fine and happy. She is still having bowl movements daily. No vomiting, No Diarrhea. I took her to the pediatrician yesterday, she pushed on her stomach and my daughter had no pain from the pressing. Daughter ate 2 children's protein bars on Sunday - she has eaten this randomly for months but usually not two in one day. Dr. said this may have bound her up and to give her fruits to help her go to the bathroom. While there she also found that my daughter had double ear infection and a sinus infection - we did not know - started her on antibiotics last night - currently she has had two does - one last night and one this morning. My Daughter woke up at 6:00 AM whimpering saying that he side hurt again - we went to the bathroom but she did not have a bowel movement. I had her take a warm bath, eat some yogurt while in the bath and drink some apples juice. Then I laid her back down and she watched cartoons for a bit and then fell back to sleep and is still resting at 10:54 AM - breathing is good. Dr. said drainage from ears and sinus could have made her stomach hurt as well, additional bile? Could this just be an intestinal discomfort and she just needs to have a lot more bowl movements, even though she is still having one bowel movment a day as usual.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (27 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Probbaly related to viral infection

Detailed Answer:
Hi and welcome.

Considering your description this may be a condition called mesenterial lymphadenitis which is a common consequance of any viral infection especially ear or respiratory ones. This is uusally self limiting and often gets better without treatment. Still, you may need medicine to reduce a fever or control pain and continue with easier diet and more fluids to soften her stool.
Some more serious conditions such as invagination, appendicitis or other surgical emergenies would have some other signs and symptoms, but if pain become constant, fever occur or there wont be bowel movements for 48 hours, it would be good to do ultrasound and abdominal xrays to rule out some other issue.
Wish you good health. Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad