My son is in the hosp with severe abdominal pain. He is eight yrs old. His pain is being treated with morphine 2mg iv every 4 hrs prn as needed. They are saying it is a stomach virus, but he is hurting in his legs, chest and bilateral lower stomach. he is running a temp of 103. he is yelling out when pain starts until morphine kicks in.
Hi. Thanks for your query. The commonest causes for severe pain in abdomen in a child of 8 years old are to be ruled out by investigations:Blood-CBC, Tidal, Urine -routine, microscopy, culture and sensitivity.Stool-Routine and microscopy, Culture and sensitivity if loose stools. Ultrasonography of the abdomen. A consultation with the Pediatric Surgeon is a must as it helps for better diagnosis. A course of an antibiotic and metronidazole with intravenous fluids should help, and the further treatment will depend upon the findings of the reports and a definite treatment can be carried out. Appendicitis, lymph node mass, pyelonephritis are a few common causes. Stomach flu is said to be a reason only if all the investigations are normal and an occasional cause like abdominal epilepsy has to be borne in mind. Morphine should be avoided as much as possible. If the child is needing Morphine there is more than the stomach flu.