What can cause shooting stomach pain in a child?
Patient: Hi my daughter is 10 yrs old and has complained for months of stomachache. She always has stomach pain from stress. It comes and goes. She is otherwise very healthy and athletic. This month first two weeks had stress relate pain from sports tryouts. When that was done it seemed to get better. Now this week every day is complaining of stomach pain, especially at night. Last evening she complained of shooting pains that made her wince. I massaged her belly and found a hard mass very tender when touched. About 3 above navel, and about 2 diameter. Does not protrude past flat belly wall ( fairly deep). I have booked her with family dr tomorrow. She can eat and go to the bathroom ok, no fever, just constant ache and sometimes shooting pain. What could it be? Doctor: It is advisable to get an ultrasound whole abdomen done on her to ascertain the origin of the mass. Since you mentioned it is very tender, it could be inflammatory, but then the child has no fever.At her age conditions like imperforate hymen could cause a painful mass, without fever as menarche could have set in. This can be treated with simple surgery.If the origin of the mass is elsewhere, more advanced investigations like CT scan may be  required and may require more aggressive treatment.It would help to keep us posted on her investigation findings for further help.