Left-side abdominal pain in children

Signs and symptoms of left-sided abdominal pain

The child will complain of pain on the left-side of their tummy, sometimes moving into the scrotum (in boys) or the groin. It may be associated with other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation or cold symptoms or may just arise on its own. It may come and go or be present for a prolonged period of time.

Common causes of left-side abdominal pain in children

In children common causes of left-sided tummy pain include:

Constipation

• This is very common in children.

• It means passing hard stools (faeces), with difficulty, less often than normal.

• Constipation commonly causes pain on the left side of the abdomen, over the last part of the colon (descending colon) where stools can get stuck.

See the separate leaflet called Constipation in children for more information.

Gastroenteritis and food poisoning

• This tends to cause diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting.

• It may also cause crampy tummy (abdominal) pains.

• The pain may be anywhere in the tummy (abdomen).

• The pain may ease for a while each time after each bowel movement.

• If the child is hungry, bland foods such as toast, plain rice or pasta, and avoiding meat, dairy or acidic fruit, will often help reduce the pains. Fluids are important but food is not necessary if the child is not hungry

See the separate leaflets called Gastroenteritis in children and Food poisoning in children for more information.

Lactose intolerance

• This can lead to bloating, tummy pain, wind and watery stools after drinking milk or any food containing dairy.

• Lactose intolerance often occurs for a few days or weeks after a bout of vomiting or diarrhoea. The condition gets better when the infection is over and the gut lining heals.

See the separate leaflet called Lactose intolerance for more information.

Mesenteric adenitis

• In children with viral infections such as colds, glands within the tummy commonly become inflamed, giving them tummy ache. These glands are similar to the ones in the neck that get bigger or painful when suffering from a cold or sore throat.

• The child may have other symptoms of a cold, such as a runny nose or a sore throat.

See the separate leaflet called Mesenteric adenitis for more information.

Torsion of the testicle

• This occurs when a testicle (testis) twists around in the scrotum.

• It occurs in boys and young men, typically teenage boys.

• It is unusual over the age of 25 years.

• There can be sudden onset of the pain which tends to be severe.

• It can affect either side.

• Pain is usually in the testicle and lower part of the abdomen but it can just affect the abdomen. The pain is usually very severe.

• This requires immediate surgical intervention and it is important to seek immediate emergency medical help in an accident and emergency department.

See the separate leaflet called Testicular torsion for more information.

Coeliac disease

• Coeliac disease is caused by a reaction of the gut to gluten. Gluten is found in many foods such as pasta and bread.

• It can cause poor growth or weight loss.

• Stools may be pale, smelly and difficult to flush away.

• Pain doesn't always occur but can be anywhere in the tummy. It tends to come and go.

See the separate leaflet called Coeliac disease for more information.

Stress and anxiety

• Stress commonly causes tummy aches in children, where it is more likely to cause headaches in adults.

• The pain can come and go and can be anywhere in the tummy.

• The tummy ache often comes on before an event which is scary or stressful, such as going to school or facing an exam.

See the separate leaflet called Anxiety in Children for more information

When to take your child to see a doctor for left-sided abdominal pain

• Severe pain (where a child can't comfortably sit, walk or lie) needs urgent medical attention.

• Constipation may need medical confirmation on the first occasion and often needs ongoing prescriptions to help.

• Medical attention should also be sought for constant pain or for pains that have been coming and going for weeks without obvious cause.

• Other reasons to seek medical help with left-sided abdominal pain include (but are not limited to) weight loss, feeling generally unwell or looking unusually pale.