What Causes Tummy Aches in Kids?

It seems there is now an epidemic of children suffering from chronic digestive disorders. Almost 15% of children have functional abdominal pain – by “functional,” we mean that there is no exact cause discovered to explain why the child is experiencing pain.

The symptoms can include nausea, lack of appetite, gas, bloating, constipation, weight loss, pain and cramping in the abdomen, headaches, and even migraines.

Read more about abdominal pain in children below, and if you would like to set up a consultation with a gastrointestinal health expert in Singapore, contact Dr. Radhika Kamat.

What Causes Tummy Aches in Kids?

Many things! If you do not see a direct answer to your concerns below, please send us an email.

Diet

Carbohydrates, fructose and lactose malabsorption can lead to specific food sensitivities. Although food sensitivity is not documented in medical literature, we see that removing offending foods often provides relief. Food sensitivities, food intolerances and food reactions all have different mechanisms. The testing methodologies are varied, and a naturopathic doctor will recommend the correct method depending on your needs.

Food sensitivity panels, for instance, can assess immune system reactions to specific foods. And elimination diets (usually in tandem with symptom tracking), help find triggers. In an elimination diet, we would remove suspected foods for a set period of time, then reintroduce them strategically to observe how your child’s body reacts. We may also recommend a stool analysis. This can reveal gut flora imbalances, inflammation, or even markers of malabsorption contributing to digestive distress.

Improper digestion can lead to an imbalance in gut microbiome. This can further change the digestive terrain and disrupt the immune system.

Stress

Stress is another factor for chronic tummy aches in children.

Children are bombarded with external pressures at home, school and social media. There is a solid link with digestive disorders and mental health. Visceral hypersensitivity is a result of the stress that leads to hypersensitization. It can make children feel abdominal pain when they shouldn’t.

What Are Common Types of Abdominal Discomfort in Kids?

Functional abdominal disorders are among the most common causes of chronic tummy aches in children. These disorders do not result from a structural issue within the digestive tract but are instead related to how the digestive system functions. Below are some common examples:

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Irritable Bowel Syndrome causes pain, bloating, constipation, or diarrhea. According to a 2019 study published in The Journal of Pediatrics, IBS is prevalent in 10% of children worldwide.

Abdominal Migraine

This condition often affects younger children and can present as severe abdominal pain accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Some children who experience abdominal migraines may also develop regular migraines as they grow older.

Functional Dyspepsia

Children with functional dyspepsia experience pain or discomfort in the upper stomach area, usually related to meals.

Functional Constipation

A common issue in children, functional constipation can cause discomfort and cramping due to infrequent or difficult bowel movements.

Each of these disorders can significantly impact a child’s quality of life, leading to missed school days and disrupted activities.

Functional Abdominal Disorders in Kids

Functional abdominal disorders like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and abdominal migraines have become more widespread in recent years. While there is no single cause for these disorders, a few factors often contribute. One is visceral hypersensitivity, a condition in which the intestines become overly sensitive to normal stimuli, causing pain when there should not be any. According to research from Gastroenterology & Hepatology, stress can also heighten a child’s sensitivity to pain by amplifying the way the brain processes discomfort. As a result, children may feel pain more intensely than usual.

Diet also plays a role. In some cases, food sensitivities or intolerances to ingredients like lactose, fructose, or certain carbohydrates can trigger abdominal pain. While these sensitivities may not always appear on standard medical tests, many parents find that eliminating problematic foods from their child’s diet leads to relief. Dr. Radhika Kamat specializes in functional medicine in Singapore, and if you are a local who needs help, please get in touch.

Why Are Digestive Disorders Common in Children These Days?

Today, children consume more processed foods, refined sugars, and artificial ingredients than in previous generations. Studies show that carbohydrate malabsorption, specifically with lactose and fructose, is a common trigger for abdominal pain in children. According to a study published in Nutrition and Metabolism, reducing fructose in the diet helped ease digestive discomfort in a significant number of young patients.

In addition to diet, children face stress at school, home, and in particular, social media. This may cause chronic digestive issues. Stress can disrupt the gut-brain connection, leading to imbalances in the digestive system. The link between stress and digestive health is well-documented, with research from Pediatrics International showing that children under stress are more likely to experience stomach pain and other gastrointestinal symptoms.

How Naturopathic Medicine Can Help With Abdominal Pain

The first step to solving a problem is by identifying it. Through a thoughtful and careful process, a naturopathic doctor can determine what’s causing your child’s digestive issues, often within the first 1-2 visits. A thorough discussion of your child’s diet, environment and past medical history will be part of the process.

Proper investigations may be necessary to rule out any organic cause . You will be referred to a gastro specialist if there is a need.  A food intolerance assessment will often be the next step that will help us determine an appropriate diet.

Depending on the digestive concern, there is generally herbal medicine, targeted formulas and probiotics that can be used to help your child.

There are also certain strains of probiotics that can help with functional abdominal pain. Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 are just few examples that are well-studied to help in constipation and abdominal pain.

Always consult a qualified naturopathic doctor before starting any natural products and supplements in children. If your child is going through recurrent tummy aches, get in touch.  Experience the most comprehensive and holistic approach with a functional medicine doctor in Singapore.

References:

Korterink, Judith J., et al. “Epidemiology of pediatric functional abdominal pain disorders: a meta-analysis.” PloS one 10.5 (2015): e0126982.

Berni Canani, Roberto, et al. “Diagnosing and treating intolerance to carbohydrates in children.” Nutrients 8.3 (2016): 157.

Hutson, J. M., et al. “‘Rapid transit’constipation in children: a possible genesis for irritable bowel syndrome.” Pediatric surgery international (2019): 1-9.

Urbańska, Magdalena, and Hania Szajewska. “The efficacy of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 in infants and children: a review of the current evidence.” European journal of pediatrics 173.10 (2014): 1327-1337.

Rutten, Juliette MTM, et al. “Nonpharmacologic treatment of functional abdominal pain disorders: a systematic review.” Pediatrics 135.3 (2015): 522-535.

Martin, Alice E., et al. “Dietary interventions for recurrent abdominal pain in childhood.” The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2017.3 (2017).