Question
A 5-year-old girl frequently complains of stomach pain. When asked where it hurts, she points to the navel area. Sometimes she points a little to the left or right of the navel. When she has stomach pain, she also says she feels like vomiting. This has been going on for about 4 months!
Answer
Periumbilical pain is a common symptom in children, and most cases do not require special examination or treatment; however, it is important to be aware of any of the following issues: night pain, frequent vomiting even vomiting bile or coffee-like substances, nocturnal diarrhea, stools with mucus and/or blood, growth and development stagnation or even regression, as well as longer-term gastrointestinal symptoms such as fever or rash. If none of these symptoms are present, continued observation is recommended; otherwise, a hospital visit is necessary. Furthermore, children should address constipation issues by consuming more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, drinking adequate amounts of water, and maintaining a regular bowel habit.