Cramping abdominal pain is common with diarrhea. A child with diarrhea may have cramping pain right before passing stools. The pain is usually not a cause for concern as long as it does not seem severe and is relieved by passing stool.
Diarrhea is often caused by a viral or bacterial infection, such as rotavirus, stomach flu (gastroenteritis), or food poisoning. Diarrhea is the body's way of quickly clearing any viruses, bacteria, or toxins such as botulism from the digestive tract. When diarrhea is caused by a virus, it usually will clear up in a few days with good home treatment.
A baby or child with severe abdominal pain may clutch his or her stomach, scream in pain, or pull his or her legs to the chest. Severe abdominal pain that begins suddenly, does not appear to let up, and is not relieved by passing stools may indicate a serious problem, such as intussusception or a severe infection.
Credits
| Author | Jan Nissl, RN, BS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Tracy Landauer |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Thomas Emmett Francoeur, MDCM, CSPQ, FRCPC - Pediatrics |
| Last Updated | June 23, 2006 |
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