Most other, more serious causes of abdominal pain in children are not only much less common, but will usually cause other symptoms besides just pain. This is most common in teenagers and adults, but can occur in younger children. It causes pain first, usually fairly severe, which starts around the belly button, and usually moves over to the right lower side of the abdomen. The pain is aggravated by movement, such as walking, jumping, or being jostled, such as in a car. Most often, no stool will be passed, though occasionally a small amount of diarrhea occurs.
Fever is common.
A physician's examination is very helpful. If appendicitis is suspected, the child will be referred to a surgeon, as this always requires an operation. This can occur in very young children, even infants and toddlers. This may have to do with how the intestines were formed, or may be caused by a twisting or telescoping of the intestines. It causes sudden, severe pain, which may come and go.