Version July 2025
Please read the Disclaimer at the end of this page.
What are discharge instructions? —
Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of your child after getting medical care in the emergency department ("ED").
What should I know? —
You came to the ED for your child's abdominal or belly pain. Many things can cause belly pain. The doctors did not find a serious cause for your child's pain.
How do I care for my child at home? —
Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do to care for your child. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.
You should also do the following:
●Call your child's regular doctor and tell them your child was in the ED. Make a follow-up appointment if you were told to.
●Keep a diary about your child's pain to help the doctor learn more about the cause. Write down what your child eats. Also write down what they were doing before and during the pain.
●Make sure your child drinks enough fluids and urinates at least 3 times per day.
●Avoid foods or drinks that make your child's pain worse. These might include:
•Drinks that are fizzy or have caffeine
•Fried, greasy, or fatty foods
•Orange juice
•Milk or other dairy products, like cheese
●When your child has pain, you should:
•See if they can have a bowel movement.
•Have them lie down and rest.
•Avoid solid foods for a few hours. If they are hungry, give them liquids like broth or water. When they feel better, try giving them mild foods like rice, crackers, bananas, applesauce, or toast.
●Do not give your child over-the-counter medicines, such as antacids or laxatives, unless the doctor tells you to.
●Check with the doctor before giving your child any herbal medicines or supplements.
When should I get emergency help?
●Call for emergency help right away (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) if:
•Your child's belly is very painful, hard, or swollen.
•Your child has a large amount of blood in their bowel movements, or vomits a large amount (more than 1 teaspoon, or 5 mL) of blood.
When should I call the doctor? —
Call for advice if:
●Your child's pain is not gone or getting better in 1 to 2 days.
●Your child has a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, chills, or pain when urinating.
●Your child's urine is red or brown.
●Your child vomits, and it is black like coffee grounds, red, or yellow.
●Your child's bowel movements have a small amount of blood (less than 1 teaspoon, or 5 mL) in them, or are red, black, or tar colored.
●Your child's pain gets worse, comes more often, or moves to 1 area of the belly.
●Your child is having trouble eating normally.
●Your child has signs of fluid loss, like:
•Dry mouth
•Few or no tears when they cry
•Dark urine
●Your child is less active than normal.
●Your child has new or worsening symptoms.
Patient education: Abdominal pain (The Basics)
Patient education: Chronic abdominal pain in children and adolescents (Beyond the Basics)
