Keeping an eye on your kids health is fundamental to every parent, and essential to be able to deal with health problems as soon as they occur. The obvious signs you want to see are a healthy tongue free from sores, fresh cool skin with a clear complexion, bright eyes, a cool brow, regular breathing, and a normal abdomen not sticking out abnormally.

A healthy appetite and thirst, with resultant normal bowel movements are fundamental signs of good health in your kids. Your kids should also be cheerful and energetic, with lots of laughter and playtime. When asleep your child should appear calm, with their features relaxed. If your child is frowning, or showing an expression of pain, you should check for signs of fever, or if any bumps and scrapes have happened in rough play. A fever could be the first sign of an onset of illness or contagious infections that kids are prone to.

As a parent it is important that you do the research to familiarize yourself with the signs and symptoms of the most common infections that kids get including, chicken pox, measles, ringworm, colds & flu. Most common is the ?tummy ache? that can mean almost anything, and while it is normally a 24 hour wonder, it can also be life threatening. This article will help parents to be better prepared to detect an emergency if it happens. That way you can respond quickly and get treatment without waiting unnecessarily.

* Interpreting Symptoms of Abdominal Pain in Children *

Tummy aches are one of the most frequently complained about problems in children. There are many causes attributed with it, and it is a challenge for the parent or the physician to find out the exact problem.

A parent can never take the risk of assuming a tummy ache is not a symptom of something more serious. The causes can be related to food, infections, poisoning, insect bites, etc. Bacteria and viruses are responsible in case of abdominal pain due to infections. Gastroenteritis and stomach flu are some of the examples of infections that can cause stomach aches. Gastroenteritis is the inflammation and irritation of stomach and the gastrointestinal passage.

Extra care must be taken by travelers, as the food and drinks can be contaminated at new locations and can lead to traveler's getting diarrhea. Stomach pain due to viral infections ward off quickly, but bacterial infections demand the intake of antibiotics. In both the cases, some children recover very fast by vomiting and excreting. In case of diarrhea, excess drinking fluids should be given to the kid to avoid dehydration.

Some stomach aches can be caused by contaminated foods or drinks, or food allergies. Problems because of food poisoning are temporary and can cause bloating. Symptoms of food poisoning are vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and nausea. Usually these symptoms surface within two days of consumption of contaminated food.

Depending on the severity chill, fever, bloody stools, or damage to the nervous system can follow. In case of a group of people who consumed the contaminated food, this situation is known as an outbreak. Over two hundred diseases are known to be transmitted via food. Food can be poisoned because of toxic agents or infective agents. Infective agents are parasites, bacteria, and viruses.

Toxic agents are uncooked food, exotic foods, and poisonous mushrooms. Food can get contaminated because of handling by unclean workers at the local restaurant, too. Parents should check out the cleanliness and should visit a trusted restaurant.

Particular foods can cause the irritation, such as diary products can cause lactose intolerance. If this is the case, the child is allergic to certain food or drinks and swallowing even a small amount can cause vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, cramping, and skin rash.

Food allergies can be tested through an elimination process, and can be managed relatively easily. Since these items are harmless otherwise, such kind of allergic reactions are known as hypersensitivity reaction. Sometimes the symptoms can be life threatening and are known as anaphylactic shock or anaphylaxis.

Poisoning can also be due to overdose of medicines and even due to eating non-food stuffs. Insect bites such as black widow spider bite can also lead to pain in the abdomen. It can be accompanied with muscle cramps, weakness, nausea, tremor, vomiting and in severe case it can cause dizziness, faintness, respiratory problems, and chest pain. Also, the heart rate and blood pressure increases.

If the pain is severe and unrelenting, be aware of the possibility that your child could be experiencing appendicitis. This is a result of blockage and inflammation of tissues. Young kids have a higher rate if complications are considered and should be immediately rushed to the hospital. The pain starts slowly in the abdomen, specifically near the belly button. The pain shifts slowly to the right side of the lower abdomen within a time period of over twenty four hours.

Clear symptoms are abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, fever and loss of appetite. Diabetes can also be a reason of abdominal pain. Small children usually curl up, cry and express pain through facial expression. Some kids will be reluctant to talk, but the parent should try to get clear explanation of the problem.

Along with close monitoring of the symptoms, studying the location of pain, pain duration, nature of vomiting, and urinary problems will help. After that a pediatric should be consulted who can further refer to a gastroenterologist. Parents should do anything they can to keep the child relaxed and calm until help is reached. Often, lying with face in downward direction can relieve pain due to gas. In the case of vomiting and diarrhea, fluids should be given to the child to drink constantly. Solid food should only be given when the child is comfortable about eating it.