To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.
You can help your
doctor diagnose and treat your child's condition by being prepared to answer
the following questions:
- Has your child had an injury to the
- How long has your child had the pain?
- What was
your child doing when the pain started?
- Has your child had similar
episodes of abdominal pain before? What were these episodes like? How were they
- Is the pain constant, or does it come and
- Is the pain localized to one area or generalized over the whole
- How severe is the pain? What has your child's activity level
- Can your child describe the pain? Is the pain cramping, a
steady ache, or sharp and burning?
- What makes the pain better? What
makes the pain worse?
- Does your child have other symptoms, such as
nausea, urinary problems, constipation, or diarrhea?
- Is your child
vomiting? If so, describe how much, how often, and how long.
your child have a fever?
- Has your child recently traveled outside
of his or her native country?
- Has your child drunk any untreated
well, stream, or lake water?
- Does your child have any