is your family a pro-vaccine family?

Children are going to experience different bowel issues at one time or another, and they may experience pain in the abdomen for a number of different reasons, but when they are frequent and unexplained, you may want to consider seeing a gastroenterologist. In smaller children, in which they cannot convey what is wrong, you may be able to see signs of a potential issue that may indicate a problem with your child's bowels. Read on for a few health signs to watch out for that would indicate that you should take your child to the gastroenterologist for a thorough exam and for treatment.

Constipation

If your child is not having bowel movements very often, it may indicate constipation. Other signs of constipation include large-diameter bowel movements, hard bowels, pain while going to the bathroom, or stomach pain caused by bowel movements. If you suspect your child is constipated, you can try to give them more water, or you can use a drink such as Pedialyte in order to help hydrate your child and hopefully help improve or increase bowel movements. If constipation persists and occurs often, you should take your child to a pediatric gastroenterologist.

Stomach Pain

If your child has a lot of stomach pains, bloating, or gas, it could be a sign of a number of health issues, including celiac disease or a gluten allergy. You can try to avoid gluten in an attempt to treat this type of condition or to see if this improves your child's pain, and you should also take your child to the gastroenterologist for help as well. Other signs of celiac disease include weight loss or issues with growth. If you notice these issues and your child is eating a well-balanced diet, it could be a sign of this disease and should be treated.

Frequent Bowel Movements

If your child is experiencing frequent bowel movements and has multiple bowel movements throughout the day, it could indicate a health concern such as Crohn's disease. Frequent bowels can cause an issue with growth, much like celiac disease, and can also cause issues such as weight loss, stomach pain, and even diarrhea. If you notice your child has a lot of bowel movements, you should get help from a gastroenterologist. This condition can sometimes be treated with medication and a change in diet. 

If you notice any of these issues in your child, you should take them to a pediatric gastroenterologist like UBMD Physicians’ Group for a thorough exam and for treatment options.