Health advice

Managing stomach aches in school-aged children

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A child sitting on a sofa at home.

You can treat most symptoms of stomach ache at home

If your child has a stomach ache, it’s important to know how to treat it at home and when you should seek professional support.

Learn why stomach aches happen and how you can help reduce the discomfort they cause.

Reviewed by: Neil Raichura, Clinical Pharmacist and Independent Prescriber

Published: Aug 2025

Next review: Aug 2028

Neil Raichura, Clinical Pharmacist and Independent Prescriber at Well Pharmacy
What are the causes of stomach aches?

Stomach aches can happen for a variety of reasons. Your child may have stomach pain or discomfort because of:

  • Constipation: Finding it difficult to poo or going to the toilet less often than normal.
  • Gas: Bloating because of foods and drinks. Food intolerance, coeliac disease and irritable bowel disorder (IBD) can also cause a feeling of fullness.
  • Overeating: Eating too much can also cause bloating.
  • Lactose intolerance: Inability to digest a sugar called lactose found in dairy products like milk, cheese and yoghurt. It can cause stomach ache, bloating, constipation and diarrhoea.
  • Irritable bowel disorder: A condition that affects the digestive system. It can cause bloating, diarrhoea or constipation.
  • Stress: A response to environmental pressures like work, school or relationships. It can cause a range of symptoms including stomach pain, indigestion, bloating, diarrhoea or constipation.
  • Stomach virus: Viruses that cause inflammation in the digestive tract. They cause stomach flu, which is also called gastroenteritis.
  • Period pains: Cramping caused by the contractions of the female reproductive organ called the uterus. This happens because of changes in hormone levels.1
How can I treat stomach aches at home?

Most stomach aches will go away on their own. To help reduce the discomfort your child is feeling, you can:

  • Ask them to lie down and rest
  • Use a heat pack or warm compress on the stomach. It should not be too hot, as this may cause damage to their skin
  • Massage their stomach gently to help with gas and indigestion
  • Ask them to drink lots of fluid, like water, throughout the day
  • Use medicines like paracetamol or ibuprofen to manage pain. You can get over-the-counter pain relief medication at your local supermarket or pharmacy. Talk to your GP or pharmacist before giving your child any pain relief medication.2,3
    • My child keeps having stomach aches. How can I help?

    Keeping a food diary can help you identify ingredients that could trigger stomach aches in your child.

    You can keep a note of:

  • What types of food your child eats
  • When they eat them
  • When they have a stomach ache
  • A description of their symptoms.4

  • This can be shared with your GP, who will be able to advise you on diet and nutrition.

    If you suspect that your child’s stomach aches are not related to their meals, you can also discuss this with your doctor.

    • When should I seek medical support for my child’s stomach ache?

    If your child repeatedly complains of stomach aches or has a stomach ache that lasts more than 1 day, it’s important to seek medical attention.

    You should call 111 if your child:

    • Feels extremely thirsty
    • Has a swollen stomach
    • Has blood in their poo or wee
    • Needs to wee more or less than usual
    • Has pain despite having pain relief like paracetamol
    • Has yellow skin or eyes. This could be a sign of jaundice.
    • Has lost weight without any apparent reason.3

    You should call 999 or visit your nearest A&E if your child:

  • Is pale and floppy
  • Is drowsy or difficult to wake
  • Vomits that contains blood
  • Has severe pain despite pain relief such as paracetamol and ibuprofen. This means that they can’t perform normal tasks like talking, standing up or getting dressed.
  • Has pain in their testicles.3

    • If your child has period pain, you can get advice and support at your local pharmacy.3

    References
    1. What Causes Stomach Pain in Kids? Scripps.org. September 23, 2019. Accessed August 20, 2025. https://www.scripps.org/news_items/6821-stomach-pain-in-kids-and-teens
    2. Volume address copy. Accessed August 20, 2025. https://www.uhcw.nhs.uk/download/clientfiles/files/Patient%20Information%20Leaflets/Emergency%20Medicine/ED%20Childrens/Abdominal%20pain.pdf
    3. Abdominal pain (stomach ache). Alder Hey Children’s Hospital Trust. July 29, 2025. Accessed August 20, 2025. https://www.alderhey.nhs.uk/conditions/symptoms-checker/abdominal-pain-stomach-ache/
    4. FoodsymptomdiaryJan22LNDS234.pdf. Accessed August 20, 2025. https://www.lnds.nhs.uk/Library/FoodsymptomdiaryJan22LNDS234.pdf
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