Question
An 8-year-old child experienced abdominal pain in the morning without eating anything, with symptoms appearing after school. The parent asked what the cause might be and whether it’s okay to use a heating patch on the abdomen.
Answer
Abdominal lymph node enlargement is common in children aged 3 to 7, often presenting as recurrent pain around the umbilicus. When accompanied by fever, cough, or other symptoms of infection, the abdominal pain may be more pronounced, which may indicate lymphadenitis of the abdomen. It is necessary to perform urine tests to determine if the infection is bacterial, viral, or caused by mycoplasma, and to prescribe symptomatic anti-inflammatory medication based on the test results. Traditional Chinese medicine such as gastrointestinal tranquility pills and compound clove stomach-soothing plasters can be used for symptomatic blood circulation treatment.