Your child’s doctor will do a physical exam and ask:
- When the pain started
- Where the pain is located
- The number of times your child feels pain each week
- How long the pain lasts
In most cases, your child’s doctor can make the diagnosis based on the symptoms and physical exam. If tests are needed to rule out a more serious condition, they may include:
- Blood tests. These are used to check for infections and other conditions that can cause abdominal pain.
- Stool culture. This test can find bacteria, viruses and small amounts of blood in the stool.
- Ultrasound. This test uses sound waves to take real-time pictures of the abdomen.
- CT scan. This test creates pictures of the interior of the abdomen with X-rays.
- Barium study. For this test, your child swallows a chalky liquid called barium, which is then tracked through the upper part of their digestive system with X-rays. This test is also called an upper GI.
- Upper endoscopy. During this test, your child is sedated and the doctor passes a thin, flexible tube with a camera into their stomach through their mouth. This test can show inflammation, infection, ulcers and other problems.
- Stool studies to rule out infection and inflammation. Contrast studies instead of barium.
