My Tummy Hurts

Most parents feel insecure about appraising the symptoms, and evaluating the degree of discomfort: all they can see is that their child is in pain. My Tummy Hurts will provide parents and care-givers with a guide devoted to the puzzling and often frightening topic of stomachaches. It will equip them with the ability to ask the right questions, to identify the problem(s), to offer practical advice, and to draw a clearer road map: how to manage common problems and how to recognize the important factors that make the difference between benign forms of pain and those requiring immediate or even urgent medical attention. My Tummy Hurts will cover the issues and necessary guidelines that play a central role in the health of growing children. It will allow the care-giver to handle the problem with a clear head and factual understanding of the possible triggers for discomfort, discovering the culprits and acting effectively. Taking care of children is a partnership between the caregiver and the healthcare provider. The better the communication is between them, the better the care will be. Therefore, Part I of My Tummy Hurts is developed to provide a general foundation on how the digestive system works its components and inter-relationships. Part II discusses the causes and function of pain, while Part III gives parents a wealth of information to help them decide if their child's pain is manageable or if it requries a visit to the doctor. Part IV addresses serious digestive problems that must be treated by a specialist, each chapter outlining the current thinking on a wide variety of conditions, their clinical symptoms, what is needed to confirm the diagnosis, as well as the management options on hand.