COMMON CAUSES OF ABDOMINAL PAIN IN INFANTS

Viral or Bacterial Infection

Viral or bacterial infection of the intestine is usually associated with diarrhea and/or vomiting. Infectious gastroenteritis often is present with abdominal pain. If suspected, your pediatrician will perform a culture of the stool, and if a bacteria is detected, appropriate treatment will be given. Viral causes require no treatment and will resolve on their own over a week or so.

Constipation often is blamed for abdominal pain, but it's rarely a problem in younger infants. Older babies who have started solid foods; however, do sometimes become constipated and may experience abdominal discomfort while having a bowel movement.

If this appears to be your child's problem, try the following:

· Add a small amount of water to the diet.

· Decrease constipating foods, such as rice, banana or cereal.

· Add a teaspoon of Karo syrup to her formula.

If these simple measures don't seem to help, talk to your pediatrician. Never give a child laxatives or other types of stool loosening or softening medications without first consulting your pediatrician.

Colic

Colic usually occurs in infants between the ages of 10 days and 3 months of age. While no one knows exactly what causes it, colic seems to produce rapid and severe contractions of the intestine, which probably are responsible for the baby's pain. The discomfort often is more severe in the late afternoon and early evening and may be accompanied by inconsolable crying, pulling up of the legs, frequent passage of gas and general irritability.

Intussusception is a rare cause of abdominal pain in young infants, usually occurring in the first year of life. This particular problem is due to one part of the intestine telescoping on itself. This creates a blockage that causes severe pain. The child will intermittently and abruptly cry and pull her legs toward her stomach. This will be followed by periods without pain, often without any distress.

It is important to recognize this cause of abdominal pain and to talk to your pediatrician immediately. She will want to see your child and perhaps order an X-ray called an air or barium enema. Sometimes doing this test will not only make the diagnosis but also unblock the intestine. If the enema does not unblock the intestine, an emergency operation may be necessary to correct the problem.