No parents are immune from the fact that their child may suffer pain in the left side. Most often this is manifested during various physical activities, for example, when running. If such cases are single, there is no reason to worry. But if the pain in the side is systematic, you should definitely contact a medical institution. After all, only a doctor, after conducting a thorough examination of the child, can establish its causes. You may need to pass the necessary tests.
Symptoms
Quite often, pain in the left side appears in children who have not yet started talking and are not able to say what bothers them. To determine this, parents should know the signs of this negative manifestation.
If the child has a pain in his left side, the symptoms of this are as follows:
- anxiety;
- sudden crying for no apparent reason;
- low mobility and lethargy;
- diarrhea or vomiting;
- poor sleep and refusal to eat.
In addition, if the child has a sore left side below, he can take a pose, when found in which the pain ceases or becomes not so strong. In particular, this is a “puncture” pose, when the baby sits with his knees pressed tightly to his stomach or chest.
The symptoms of pain in the left side also include protruding cold sweat, pallor of the skin, weakness of the abdominal muscles. The last is most important! If the parents notice that the child’s abdominal muscles are weak, immediately call an ambulance.
It should be clearly understood that if the child regularly has a sore left side, you should definitely contact the appropriate specialist. After all, in order to cope with it, you must accurately establish its causes and undergo a course of treatment.
What organs are in the left side?
In the left side is the lung, heart, pancreas, diaphragm, spleen, part of the stomach and other important organs. Because of the malfunction of one of them, pain can occur.
Of course, it is impossible to accurately determine which organ has a pathology without conducting appropriate medical research. This can be determined only by passing the tests prescribed by the doctor.
Causes of pain
If the child has a pain in his left side, then you need to not only know the location of the pain, but also its nature. There are three main types:
Chronic pain in the side is characteristic of any digestive system disorders. In particular, diarrhea, gastroduodenitis, gastritis. Such pain can be associated with various stressful situations. For example, with overeating or starving a child, changing the diet or the time of his nutrition. In such cases, the pain is short-lived. Parents must carefully monitor how many times a day and at what time the child eats food.
Acute pain is paroxysmal and sharp. Its cause may be various injuries, infections or pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract.
If the cause is gastrointestinal malfunction, then there is a sprain or contraction of the intestinal muscles, and the child has pain in the left side of the lower abdomen. A similar phenomenon is a direct signal to immediately contact a medical institution for surgical intervention. Of course, an accurate diagnosis should be made before this. Please note that in such a situation it is impossible to procrastinate in any case, since in a short time the baby's condition may worsen.
If a sharp pain in the left side of the baby is caused by an infection, you should immediately consult a doctor. Its cause may be a hernia, colitis, inversion of the intestines or diverticulitis. Quite often, the latter is characteristic of children who are overweight. This is due to the fact that the intestines are able to "get confused." This can happen unexpectedly, for no apparent reason. It also stops abruptly. After pain in the left side caused by infection, the baby may experience loose stools and vomiting.
False pain in the side is associated with problems with organs located in the abdominal cavity. It can also be called “mirror” or reflex. If the child has a left side sore, then this may be a sign of pyelonephritis, pleurisy, diabetes mellitus, various diseases of the esophagus or an insect bite.
Pain in the left side after eating
Quite often, it can appear after eating. If the child has a sore left side under the ribs, then this can be caused by pancreatitis, gastritis with low acidity or a stomach ulcer. When parents visit a doctor with a child, they will need to describe in as much detail as possible when the pain appears. It, for example, can be caused by eating, physical activity, hunger. This information is necessary to make an accurate diagnosis.
Total
If the child has a sore left side, then this can be caused by various reasons, and its nature may be different. If it is not single, but regular, you should immediately contact a medical institution for a thorough examination of the child, diagnosis and the necessary treatment.