To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment

You can help your health professional diagnose and treat your child's condition by being prepared to answer the following questions:

• Has your child had an injury to the abdomen?
• 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 treated?
• Is the pain constant, or does it come and go?
• Is the pain localized to one area or generalized over the whole belly?
• How severe is the pain? What has your child's activity level been?
• 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.
• Does 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 health risks?