Stomach aches are caused by eating too much or too little food, intestinal gas, or a mild viral infection. A child who has recurring stomach aches should always be examined by a doctor. Repeated stomach aches may result from colic, constipation, or urinary tract infection. If there are additional symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea and/or blood in the child's stools, the child may have a chronic intestinal illness such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or celiac disease. But most cases of recurring stomach aches, especially in school-aged children, are related to psychological stress or anxiety. Children who are unable to verbalize their feelings of discomfort or stress often will express their discomfort by having stomach aches or headaches.

Following are symptoms and signs of stomachache in TCM:
1. Pattern of Liver Qi Invading Stomach
Main symptoms: swelling pain in the stomach, pain attacking the ribs, frequent belching, pain attacks due to emotion, thin and greasy tongue coating, floating pulse.

2. Pattern of Excessive Heat in the Liver and Stomach
Main symptoms: burning pain in the stomach, irritability, pantothenic acid, dry mouth and bitter taste, red tongue, yellow coating, rapid and floating pulse.

3. Pattern of External Evils Invading the Stomach
Main symptoms: burning pain in the stomach, aversion to cold, prefer to hot water, thin and greasy tongue coating, floating pulse.

4. Pattern of Loss of Appetite
Main symptoms: Fullness in the stomach and intestine, poor appetite, vomit, difficult to defecate, thick and greasy coating.