What to Do When My 7-Year-Old Child Continuously Complains of Stomach Pain

Question

My 7-year-old child has been complaining of stomach pain recently. What should I do?

Answer

Abdominal pain is one of the common symptoms in children. The severity of abdominal pain varies, and parents should pay attention to the nature, location, timing, accompanying symptoms, and causes of the pain. Do not administer painkillers to your child without a doctor’s diagnosis. Although painkillers can temporarily relieve pain, they do not treat the disease. Using them may lead to a worsening of the condition, potentially masking the illness and delaying treatment. It is important to keep calm, rest in bed, and arrange a diet appropriately. The diet should be light, easy to digest, and nutritious. Typically, a liquid diet can be introduced, followed by semi-liquid foods as the pain subsides. Never give your child fried, heavy, or spicy and irritating foods. Pay attention to cooking techniques to stimulate the child’s appetite. Eat small meals frequently, and use porridge-like dishes to aid digestion.