5 yo constantly complaining of tummy ache

[gabid]

Some months ago Ds 5 started complaining of tummy ache most days. He still plays and jumps around most of the time though. We have been to the GP and he had a blood and urine test (negative). One other mum described a similar problem to me.

Is this common? What is the cause?

dd did this at this age and still does age 7 but less so. she has a sensitive wee tummy adn if she gets a cold or any virus the glands in that area enlarge. she was a v. sicky baby which might have something to do with it.

keep an eye on it and see if anything in particular triggers it. eg dd gets it if she drinks juice too quickly or sometime jsut drinking juice full stop makes her feel sick

good luck

Is it possible that there is an emotional problem rather than a medical problem? You must rule out medical issues first but my ds and dd will complain of tummy ache when they are worried about things. Ds (recently turned 6) does this a lot and it can be worrying. It turned out, for him, that many of the boys in his class were very rough and he was anxious about going to school.

DD1 (6) is like that. She also have trouble with her tonsils and adenoids which can lead to stomach ache.
Also she had candidiasis which didn't help.
Eating too quickly or/and without chewing properly can cause this.
Orange juice is tough on the tummies. (any juices but especially orange)

My DD had the same, it lasted about 4 years in all and was diagnosed as Abdominal Migraines. This could be the case for you DS. Either way, I would be going to the GP again. Is he sure its a pain in his tummy? Children often muddle where pain is coming from.

www.relieve-migraine-headache.com/abdominal-migraine.html

I might add it was the GP who diagnose Abdo Migraines, she was never offered tests and didn't have any medication for them other tan calpol etc. I didn't think at the time to ask for tests

She is almost 12yrs now and doesn't have them anymore but she is headachy from time to time.

Dd1 (6) is having this as well. Her sore tummy comes on after most meals but especially breakfast. She's been taking gaviscon tablets when it comes on and they usually help but the sore tummy's had become more regular so I've been back to the doctor and she now has some indigestion tablet that she takes in the morning as well as the gaviscon. If it hasn't improved in 2 weeks, she's to go for blood tests. With dd1, it's not to avoid school as she can't wait to get there.

DH has crohn's disease and I'm just hoping it's nothing related.

Thanks for that link swearymary, I think I'll mention that to the dr; the reason I took her back to see her was because she looked so pale with black shadows under eyes, which is mentioned in your link.

weepootle, dd is the same in teh morning to the point were she doesn't want to eat anything

Obviously you should get him checked out medically to make sure there isn't an underlying cause, but I find my DS 6 complains about a tummy ache when he is after attention. Usually it is just before bedtime (time wasting)and sometimes when I have asked him to do something that he doesn't want to do. Kids can be very crafty when they want to be!

The morning thing is very IBS. My 3 have IBS and intolerances. My eldest - 8, is always complaining of stomach and rib pain. No medical cause found. Drs suggest pain relief for long periods of pain. Could just be the IBS cramps - which can often be brought on by stressful situations.
Just another option to think on. Make sure there is no medical cause first though.

Are there any other symptoms such as upset stomach, wind etc?

My DS2 was always complaining of tummy ache and was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease. You can have a blood test.

Thanks for all your replies, yes, it does seem to be quite common. And, yes, we already had a blood test. At the moment Ds complains every morning (early) and evening (starts during dinner). I will have a look at that link in a moment. Most children seem to have the aches around school starting age for a couple of years, so maybe school is quite stressful at that age.

Yesterday DS came home telling me how hard he had been working at school and the jokes he told with his friends - this morning at 5am he came to us complaining of tummy ache - maybe its all a bit too much sometimes.

Yes, abdominal migrane is a possibility, however Ds's pain does not seem too severe, he still play and forgets about it at school, but I will suggest it to the GP, maybe there is herbal or very gental he can try.

has your child been tested for ceoliac? think thats how you spell it.. a friend of mine has 4 children and two were tested positive after years of tummy pain and upset tummys alot...the dr initally refused to test and said it wouldn't be that, one out of the two is also allergic to dairy!!

also commonly confused with coeliac or missed altogether is giardia. Dd had tummy aches for a year and a half and all sorts of tests and doc visits before we went private and immediately a stool test found she had this parasite. A family near us we're friends with all had it 2 years ago and we never realised until i mentioned our discovery.↲I don't think it's common but I wished I'd even known about it.

btw we had to do an extra sensitive test as giardia is easy to miss. Our friends had to test several times on nhs and dd's stool test negative with them too until we paid for a very precise one