New poll suggests that parents should take tummy aches more seriously

Weekly roundups on how to live well are easy to understand. Subscribe to CNN's Life, But Better Newsletter for tools and information designed to improve your wellbeing.

CNN

According to a C.S. national survey, one in six parents report that their child complains about stomach aches at least twice a month. Mott Children's Hospital, University of Michigan Health.

Despite the fact that 1 in 3 parents are confident they can determine whether the abdominal pain is serious or not, parents don't always seek out professional advice if these complaints become frequent.

C.S. The National Children's Health Poll by Mott Children's hospital found that two in five parents who reported monthly stomach pains for their children had not spoken to a pediatrician about the issue.

Our poll shows that parents are not always consulting with doctors when determining if abdominal pain is serious or how to treat it. Dr. Susan Woolford, Mott Pediatrician and co-director of the Mott Survey, said:

Woolford explained that it can be hard to determine if stomach pains are a temporary problem or a cause for concern, as they could be symptoms of a variety of health problems.

Eighty-four per cent of parents say they will contact their doctor or seek urgent care if there is blood in their child's stool. Around 65% of parents would call their child's doctor if they felt a sharp pain, like a blade, if it lasted more than six hours or if there was swelling in the abdomen.

According to Dr. Anthony Porto of Yale New Haven Children's Hospital, parents should monitor the frequency and severity of less severe abdominal pain. Porto says that children with functional abdominal problems or irritable-bowel syndrome can get used to the pain. This may impact their behavior and mental health.

A majority of parents believed that their child's stomach pain was caused by indigestion, food or constipation, but a small percentage thought it could be caused by a virus or an infection.

Stomach pains and anxiety

Parents of children aged 6-10 believed that the most common causes for pain were to avoid school or to get attention. Parents of children between 6 and 10 years old also mentioned anxiety and worry.

Porto stated that there are more nerve ends in your stomach than in your brain. We often feel jitters around our stomach. This is because the nerve endings within the intestines can change the way the gut works. It can be painful when it compresses, moves or is pressed.

Participants to the survey said that they had used different strategies to treat anxiety-related abdominal pain. The majority of parents reported that they spoke to their children about their anxiety, 53% did breathing exercises with them, 53% distracted their child and 16% allowed their child to miss their school or other activities.

Woolford stated that this situation is a warning sign of a child's emotional health. Parents should provide a safe environment for children to express their concerns and feelings. They can also help them identify stressors such as family problems, school pressures or social challenges.

Stomach pain can also indicate more serious health problems, such as appendicitis or bowel obstructions. It could also indicate urinary tract infection, testicular issues like hernias.

Woolford stated that many parents polled were not confident in their ability to recognize such situations. If a child experiences severe, frequent, or disruptive pain, you should always err on caution and consult a doctor.