The German Association of Pediatricians and Adolescents stated that abdominal pain in children may indicate irritable bowel syndrome, especially if the pain is frequent and within the navel, and is accompanied by other symptoms, such as bloating, diarrhea or constipation.
She explained that Irritable Bowel Syndrome attacks children due to hypersensitivity of the nerves in the abdominal range, noting that they occur due to psychological tension.
Parents should consult a doctor to check for a child with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and to rule out any other diseases such as appendicitis.
The treatment consists of behavior therapy and relaxation techniques, with the possibility of eating cottonseed or maltodextrin, in order to protect the sensitive intestinal wall from irritation.