How to manage severe stomach pain in a 17-year-old boy?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

My son is 17 years old. He is suffering from severe stomach pain. He had motions around three to five times in the night. We consulted a doctor and he advised him to take Pentasa 1 g and Morease SR for a month. We have taken X-rays, blood tests, and colon endoscopy. His results came back normal. He is taking medicines for four days. But still, he is having stomach pain with motions. Please help.

Answered by Dr. Babu Lal Meena

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

The most common cause of abdominal pain is functional and it is related to multiple problems such as constipation and regurgitation of food. As organic causes are ruled out, it is necessary to rule out functional causes. I think that your son seems to have chronic constipation and it can cause pain. Sometimes, it seems to be unnoticed. But it manifests with some features such as prolonged sitting on the toilet or excessive straining or missing of defecation. I suggest taking laxatives helps a lot in cases of severe constipation. Kindly attach the reports of X-rays.

Patient's Query

Thank you doctor,

I am attaching the reports of the X-ray. Please advise some laxative medicine as my son is having similar symptoms as mentioned above.

Answered by Dr. Babu Lal Meena

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Your attached reports are not clear. Please send a new one.

Patient's Query

Thank you doctor,

I am attaching his X-rays again.

Answered by Dr. Babu Lal Meena

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Your son can start taking treatment for constipation. It takes some days to get resolved. Take a high-fiber diet. Take plenty of water. Take one packet of Peglec (potassium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, polyethylene glycol, sodium chloride, and sodium sulfate) and dissolve it in two liters of water. Finish them in four hours. Repeat it again if your son does not have stools. He can take Laxopeg (Polyethylene glycol) two sachets at night time once a day. Your son can continue taking it for few months. Regular follow-up is necessary to titrate its dosage. You can decrease its dosage if you have loose stools. Do regular exercise. Revert back after a week.

Patient's Query

Thank you doctor,

My son is having severe stomach pain and he passes motion seven times. All the reports are normal. Please advise.

Answered by Dr. Babu Lal Meena

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Stop taking laxatives. Please mention in detail about the appearance of the stool. If he has severe pain, he can consult a doctor soon. He can be given with Diclofenac injection 75 mg IM (intramuscular).

Patient's Query

Thank you doctor,

I think that he has IBS. He passes stool five times at night with stomach pain. He does not have any bowel movements in the daytime. Recently, he has done a CT scan for small bowel, large bowel, and gallbladder. All the results came back normal. Is there any medicine for IBS? Please advise.

Answered by Dr. Babu Lal Meena

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) can be managed by symptomatic treatment with the removal of stress factors and dietary management. Colonoscopy should be done in full length. If he has constipation, you can give him laxatives. Do bowel training twice a day. Do not take much analgesics. This kind of bowel disturbance occurs as a spectrum of IBS. Have a review soon and maintain pain dairy regularly.

Patient's Query

Thank you doctor,

His symptoms are similar to IBS with bloating and diarrhea. Is it good to take Rifaximin 200 mg for ten days?

Answered by Dr. Babu Lal Meena

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

If there is excessive bloating, then it indicates that he has bacterial overgrowth. Rifaximin can be taken and it suppresses the growth.

Patient's Query

Thank you doctor,

All the test results came back negative. Even a breath test was also done and it indicated bacterial overgrowth. He does not have any gas problem. Is it good to take Rifaximin?

Answered by Dr. Babu Lal Meena

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

If the breath test shows a negative result, then there is no need to take Rifaximin. It does not cause any side effects as they do not get absorbed. So you can try to take it. Monitor his stool consistency. Avoid straining while defecating or prolonged sitting on the toilet. Give him curd rather than milk. Avoid giving fast foods and give him a high-fiber diet. Manage his stress.

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Answered by Dr. Babu Lal Meena

Medically reviewed by Dr. K. Shobana

November 29, 2016

April 25, 2024

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Babu Lal Meena

Medical Gastroenterology

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