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Why does my child have tummy pain and vomiting?
Tummy pain in children often comes with vomiting or diarrhoea, and most cases get better in a few days.
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What it is
Tummy pain is a common symptom in children, and it often comes together with vomiting or diarrhoea [1][3]. Norovirus, sometimes called the winter vomiting bug, is a stomach bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea, and it usually gets better in about 2 days [1]. Norovirus is very contagious and causes inflammation of the stomach or intestines, but most people get better within 1 to 3 days [10]. Rotavirus is another virus that commonly causes severe watery diarrhoea and vomiting in infants and young children [4]. Symptoms of rotavirus usually start about 2 days after exposure, and vomiting and watery diarrhoea can last 3 to 8 days [4]. Other causes of diarrhoea and vomiting include food poisoning, food intolerance or allergy, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, appendicitis, inflammatory bowel disease, coeliac disease and some medicines [7]. Vomiting can also be caused by migraine, motion sickness, inner ear infections, reflux and other infections such as a urinary tract infection [7]. Constipation can also cause a stomach ache, along with bloating or feeling sick [2]. Typhoid fever, which is caused by Salmonella Typhi, can cause prolonged high fever, fatigue, headache, nausea, abdominal pain and constipation or diarrhoea [9].
What you can do at home
- Offer fluids often. Oral rehydration powder mixed with water can help with dehydration [6].
- A pharmacist may suggest oral rehydration powder, or medicine to stop diarrhoea for a few hours, such as loperamide, which is not suitable for children under 12 [6].
- Keep your child away from school or nursery until they have not been sick or had diarrhoea for 2 days [5].
- Do not visit hospitals or places like care homes until your child has not been sick or had diarrhoea for 2 days [5].
- If you are caring for an older person or someone with dementia or a learning disability, watch for behaviour changes such as confusion, as it might mean they are in pain or discomfort [2].
When to see a doctor or go to the emergency department
Get urgent advice from your doctor if:
- you are worried about a baby under 12 months [5][6]
- your child stops breast or bottle feeding while they are ill [5][6]
- a child under 5 years has signs of dehydration, such as fewer wet nappies [5][6]
- you or your child aged 5 years or over still have signs of dehydration after using oral rehydration sachets [5][6]
- you or your child keep being sick and cannot keep fluid down [5][6]
- you or your child have bloody diarrhoea or bleeding from the bottom [5][6]
- you or your child have diarrhoea for more than 7 days or vomiting for more than 2 days [5][6]
Go to the emergency department or call your local emergency number if you or your child:
- vomit blood, or have vomit that looks like ground coffee [5][6]
- have green vomit (adults) or yellow-green or green vomit (children) [5][6]
- may have swallowed something poisonous [5][6]
- have a stiff neck and pain when looking at bright lights [5][6]
- have a sudden, severe headache [5][6]
- have a sudden, severe tummy ache [5][6]
- have blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue — on brown or black skin this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet [5][6]
- are having severe difficulty breathing, or taking lots of quick, short breaths [5][6]
- are confused or not responding as usual [5][6]
Severe pain means pain that is always there and so bad it is hard to think or talk, you cannot sleep, and it is very hard to move, get out of bed, go to the bathroom, wash or dress [5][6]. Do not drive yourself to the emergency department. Ask someone to drive you or call your local emergency number for an ambulance, and bring any medicines you take with you [5][6].
Severe dehydration may need treatment in hospital with fluids given directly through the veins, so contact your doctor if you or someone you are caring for is severely dehydrated [8]. Infants and young children, older adults, and people with other illnesses are most at risk of dehydration [8].
Common questions
Is it norovirus or rotavirus? Both cause vomiting and diarrhoea [1][4]. Norovirus usually gets better in about 2 days, while rotavirus vomiting and watery diarrhoea can last 3 to 8 days [1][4]. There is no specific medicine for rotavirus, but your doctor may recommend medicine to treat the symptoms [4].
Can my child get norovirus more than once? Yes. There are many different types of norovirus, and infection with one type may not protect against other types [3]. It is not known exactly how long protection lasts [3].
How long is my child contagious? Most people with norovirus illness get better within 1 to 3 days, but they can still spread the virus for a few days after [10].
When can my child go back to school? Only when they have not been sick or had diarrhoea for 2 days [5].
Sources
[1] NHS — “Norovirus (vomiting bug)” (2024), section “Norovirus (vomiting bug)”, p. 1 — https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/norovirus/ [2] NHS — “Constipation” (2026), section “Symptoms of constipation”, p. 1 — https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/constipation/ [3] CDC — “About Norovirus”, section “Types”, p. 1 — https://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/about/index.html [4] CDC — “About Rotavirus”, section “About Rotavirus Key points”, p. 1 — https://www.cdc.gov/rotavirus/about/index.html [5] NHS — “Norovirus (vomiting bug)” (2024), section “Don’t”, p. 1 — https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/norovirus/ [6] NHS — “Diarrhoea and vomiting” (2023), section “A pharmacist can help with diarrhoea and vomiting”, p. 1 — https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/diarrhoea-and-vomiting/ [7] NHS — “Diarrhoea and vomiting” (2023), section “Causes of diarrhoea and vomiting”, p. 1 — https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/diarrhoea-and-vomiting/ [8] CDC — “About Rotavirus”, section “Seek medical care for severe dehydration”, p. 1 — https://www.cdc.gov/rotavirus/about/index.html [9] WHO — “Typhoid”, section “Symptoms”, p. 1 — https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/typhoid [10] CDC — “About Norovirus”, section “More Information What it is”, p. 1 — https://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/about/index.html
This guide summarises published paediatric guidelines. It is not medical advice and does not replace your paediatrician. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.
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