Tummy pains are common in young people. Most cases are not serious and the pains go away without special treatment.

Common causes of tummy pains are:

• Constipation or irritable bowel
• Infections like gastroenteritis, kidney or bladder infections
• Food poisoning or food allergy or intolerance
• Appendicitis or bowel obstruction
• Period pain
• Stress or anxiety
• No apparent cause

Pains can develop very quickly or more slowly. Vomiting, diarrhoea or fever may occur.

General advice

• Encourage your child to drink fluids, especially water
• Sitting on the toilet may help to ease the pain
• Let them eat if they feel hungry – foods like toast, rice and banana
• A warm heat pack may help ease the pain
• Paracetamol may help. Do not give aspirin

Seek medical advice if your child has a high fever (more than 38.5C), has severe pain, does not want to move, is pale and lethargic, is frequently vomiting, not passing urine, has a rash or has had a recent injury.

Constipation is when someone has had fewer than two bowel movements in a week.

Usually due to:

• Not enough exercise
• Diet that doesn’t include enough water and fibre
• Stress
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Avoiding going to the bathroom
• Travel or change in daily routine
• Sign of a medical condition

General advice – drink more water and fluids, eat more fibre foods like oats, fruit, vegetables, wholegrain breads, beans and popcorn, get enough exercise and develop a regular habit of going to the toilet after meals.

Laxatives may be used on occasion but if required more regularly then please see a Doctor.

Common examples:

• Prune juice is a natural laxative, tastes better mixed with another juice.
• Liquid paraffin mixtures eg Parachoc soften the stool
• Movicol is a powder mixed with water
• Coloxyl with senna tablets stimulate the bowel
• Metamucil is a natural fibre powder and has a mild laxative effect.

Constipation often happens again so sometimes treatment needs to continue. It can be controlled along with a good diet, exercise and improvements in bowel habits.

Sister Margaret Bates
College Nurse