Causes, treatments and prevention of abdominal cramps in children

Abdominal cramps are a common symptom in children. For my son, since his development is not yet complete and his body resistance is relatively poor, when he starts to have abdominal cramps, we must find out the cause and seek early treatment to avoid delaying treatment and increasing the difficulty of later treatment. In addition, in daily life, parents can also prevent their children from experiencing symptoms of abdominal cramps through certain methods. The details are as follows.

1. Reasons

High fever, epilepsy, tetanus, rabies, calcium deficiency, etc. can all cause cramps, which are systemic. There are also local ones such as gastrocnemius (commonly known as calf) cramps, which are often caused by rapid exercise, work fatigue, or severe twisting of the tibia, and often occur when lying down or sleeping.

2. Treatment Methods

1. Commonly used Chinese patent medicines: Qingkailing injection, Xingnaojing injection, Qingqijiedu injection, compound houttuynia injection, etc., added to 10% glucose injection and intravenous drip. Zixuedan, Niuhuang Liangfengpian [Niuhuang Baolong Wan], Amber Jingfengpian [Amber Baolong Wan], Niuhuang Zhenjing Wan, Zhijingsan, Houzaosan, Guashuang Tuireling, Annao Wan, etc., for oral administration.

2. Acupuncture therapy:

Body acupuncture treatment: Ren Zhong, Su Liao, Bai Hui and other acupoints are the preferred acupoints. The drainage method is used for excess syndrome and the tonification method is used for deficiency syndrome.

Acupoint injection therapy: earthworm injection, injection at Dazhui, Hegu and Quchi acupoints, 0.5-1.0mL for each acupoint.

Auricular acupuncture therapy: take Shenmen and subcortical points and use strong stimulation.

Lamp dipping therapy: Dip a lamp wick in clear oil and light it, and aim the flame at the Yintang, Renzhong, Jianche, Jiaosun, Shenque, Dazhui and other acupoints. A "pop" sound can be heard when touched, and it can stop spasms quickly.

3. Commonly used antispasmodic Chinese medicines: antelope horn (goat horn), scorpion, Uncaria rhynchophylla, earthworm, centipede, white silkworm, black-necked snake, white aconite, Arisaema, cicada shell, etc., can be selected based on disease identification and syndrome differentiation.

3. Prevention methods

1. Actively treat the primary disease according to the cause to prevent it. For example, epileptic patients need to take medication as prescribed by their doctors. If they suddenly stop taking the medication, even for 1 to 2 days, it will cause epileptic seizures. For example, children are prone to cramps when they have a high fever, so timely fever reduction can prevent cramps; tetanus can cause cramps, so tetanus vaccine should be given to prevent tetanus; rabies can cause cramps, so it is important to prevent dog bites, and if bitten by a dog, go to the hospital for treatment immediately; livestock with rabies should be killed immediately; calcium deficiency can cause cramps, so children should supplement calcium (eat more calcium-containing foods, take calcium gluconate, calcium tablets, etc. when necessary), and at the same time get more sun exposure and take cod liver oil, etc.

2. To prevent gastrocnemius cramps, do sufficient warm-up exercises before strenuous exercise or swimming. To prevent cramps in this area when sleeping at night, avoid over-tiredness during the day and avoid exposing your legs to cold at night.