Understanding Indigestion in Children: A Guide for Parents

Indigestion, medically known as dyspepsia, is a common problem among children. It refers to discomfort or pain in the upper abdomen, often occurring during or after meals. While it is typically temporary in children, it can be distressing and impact their overall well-being.

Fortunately, with simple lifestyle adjustments, you can alleviate your child’s discomfort and promote better digestive health.

Identifying the Signs and Symptoms

Common symptoms of indigestion in children include:

Abdominal Discomfort: Pain or a burning sensation in the upper abdomen.

Bloating: A feeling of fullness that can be uncomfortable.

Nausea: This may range from mild queasiness to more severe nausea, leading to vomiting.

Early Satiety: Feeling full quickly, making the child reluctant to finish their meal.

Excessive Burping: Frequent burping during or after eating.

Common Causes of Indigestion

The causes of indigestion are complex, but several factors may trigger indigestion in children, including:

Overeating: Consuming large portions, especially rich or fatty foods.

Spicy Foods: Certain spices can irritate the stomach lining.

Eating Too Quickly: Rushed meals can lead to swallowing excess air, causing discomfort.

Food Sensitivities: Conditions like lactose intolerance can exacerbate symptoms.

Stress, Anxiety, and Insufficient Sleep: Emotional factors can negatively affect digestion.

Carbonated Beverages: Soda and fizzy drinks may contribute to gas and bloating.

Recent Illness: Recent gastrointestinal infections can also trigger symptoms of indigestion.

Differentiating Indigestion from Other Conditions

It’s important to distinguish indigestion from other potential issues, such as:

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): Can cause similar discomfort and may lead to regurgitation.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): Characterised by chronic abdominal pain, bloating and change in bowel habit .

Peptic Ulcers: Can lead to significant abdominal pain.

Food Allergies: May present with gastrointestinal symptoms that mimic indigestion.

Infections: Conditions like food poisoning can manifest in similar ways.

Effective Management Strategies

To help manage indigestion in your child, consider implementing the following strategies:

Dietary Adjustments: Encourage smaller, more frequent meals and reduce intake of trigger foods, such as spicy or fatty options.
Mindful Eating: Teach your child to eat slowly, chew thoroughly, and refrain from gulping drinks to minimize air intake.
Stress Relief: Introduce relaxation techniques such as deep breathing exercises or engaging in enjoyable activities to help manage stress.
Post-Meal Care: Advise your child to wait 1-2 hours after eating before exercising or lying down to aid digestion.
Medications: Consult with a healthcare provider about the appropriate use of antacids or other medications if symptoms persist.

When to Seek Medical Attention

While most cases of indigestion are mild, certain symptoms warrant immediate medical consultation:

Severe or persistent abdominal pain or frequent vomiting.

Blood in vomit or stool, or black, tarry stools.

Difficulty swallowing, choking sensations, or ongoing throat discomfort.

A significant loss of appetite, unexpected weight loss, or poor weight gain.

New or unexplained symptoms, such as fever or joint pain.

Conclusion

Indigestion in children, though common, can usually be managed effectively through dietary and lifestyle changes. By staying informed and proactive, parents can play a crucial role in helping their child navigate this discomfort. With the right care and guidance from healthcare professionals, your child can quickly recover and return to enjoying their carefree days.

Price

Tele-consultation (within Singapore)

10 minute Consultation	General Paediatrics Case	Sub Specialty Case
1^st Consult	$90	$120
Follow up	$50	$80

Additional charges may apply for extended consultation with the doctor.

Delivery of Medication (within Singapore):

A standard delivery fee of $15. Medications will be delivered to you within 3 hours.
Please note the following surcharges apply to the following area:

Orchard Road – $2, Tuas – $4, Sentosa and Airport – $10

*Tele-consultation (outside of Singapore) is only applicable for Sub Specialty Follow up.

10-minute Consultation – $100
Additional charges may apply for extended consultation with the doctor.
Medication delivery is subjected to availability and customs restrictions.

Appointment Times

Tele-consultation hours are per clinic operating hours.
Please refer to the link : https://www.sbcc.sg/location/ to know your clinic operating hours.

Terms & Conditions

Thank you for choosing SBCC's Tele-Consultation service. At SBCC, we strive to provide you with a seamless and effective healthcare experience. Our Tele-consultation service is different than other providers as we can schedule a tele-consult with your preferred paediatrician through our Platform.

Please go through the below terms and conditions for our Tele-Consultation process including your rights and responsibilities of this platform. These Terms and conditions, together with our privacy policy constitute an agreement between you and Healthway Medical group.

If you are having a MEDICAL EMERGENCY, please DO NOT use this service or platform. Please call EMERGENCY SERVICES (Call 995) immediately.

Tele-Consultation is a web platform to perform audio/video consultations with your doctor and solely relies on information provided by you. It is not a substitute for in-person medical consultations.

Every attempt will be made to provide responses to your questions within the stipulated response time. However, do not delay seeking medical attention from your doctor or hospital, under any circumstances.

Information you provide during Tele Consultation must be accurate and related to your medical condition. Additionally, you agree to update and maintain such information on this platform and our Clinic Management System to ensure that it is true, accurate, current and complete.

For video consultations, please do ensure that you have a stable and decent bandwidth internet connection to host a video consultation, or else the video and audio quality may not be up to the required standards.

Video Session Privacy, Security & Etiquette: It is required that the patient prepares ahead of time to participate in the Video Consultation, in a quiet and private place. There must be no audio/video recording of the video session by the patient.

Failure to comply with the above requirements can result in termination of the video session with no refund or rescheduling of the consultation.

All patients below the age of 16 years must be accompanied by a parent/legal guardian

All cases will be subject to approval by the physician or nurse

FAQ

What is SBCC’s Tele-consultation service?

In the current COVID-19 situation, parents may be hesitant to bring their little one to clinics. With this tele-consultation service, you may consult a paediatrician on non-urgent clinical matters without leaving your home.

Is Tele-consultation platform suitable for everyone?

Healthway Medical’s tele-consultation service is suitable for patients with non-emergency illnesses.
All patients below the age of 16 years must be accompanied by a parent/legal guardian.
If this is your FIRST time consulting an SBCC doctor, this service is suitable if your child is 5 years old and above.
If you are KNOWN patient to the consulting doctor, children less than 5 years old will be considered for tele-consultation
All cases will be subject to approval by the physician or nurse.

What do I need to proceed with this consult?

All patients below the age of 16 years must be accompanied by their parents/legal guardian.
Your child’s and parent’s photo identity (to be shown at the beginning of the consultation)
Your exact address where you are performing the consult
A recent weight of your child
A mobile phone and credit card
A computer/device which allows you to perform video-conferencing
A quiet and conducive environment

What medical conditions are suitable for Tele-consultation?

Cough, cold, runny/blocked nose, sore throat
Fever < 5 days
Diarrhoea, constipation, mild vomiting
Mild and gradual onset rashes (days) and skin irritation/itch
Itchy or slightly red eyes
Sleep problems
New visit screening consult for chronic symptoms or for second opinion to discuss possible diagnosis, follow up and management plan

FOLLOW-UP for stable chronic conditions such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, food allergy, eczema, constipation, juvenile arthritis, chronic urticaria

What medical conditions are not suitable for Tele-consultation?

Children who are lethargic or have poor activity
Children who are not passing urine well
Children who are drinking < 50% of their normal intake
Children 38⁰C
Chest pain
Trauma (Suspected fracture or dislocations (severe pain, open wounds, deformity, severe bruising or swelling, loss of sensation, limb weakness etc.)
Severe or sudden onset headache
Shortness of breath or difficulty of breathing
Fits or seizures
Significant stomach pain of any form
Quick onset and severe rashes occurring all over the body
Sudden numbness, weakness or slurred speech
Mental health conditions

What do I do if it’s urgent?

If your child is experiencing a medical emergency, please call an ambulance at 995 or make your way to the nearest Accident & Emergency department immediately. If it is not an emergency, but you/your child do not meet the requirement for telemedicine please call our clinics for an appointment. If you need mental health support, please call SOS Hotline (1800-221 4444).

How do I arrange for Tele-consultation?

1. Fill in the online registration form and make an appointment with your preferred paediatrician.
2. Complete the payment details before submitting the online registration form.
3. You will receive an SMS and Email to confirm your registration.
4. As the tele-consult request needs to be approved by the paediatrician, you will receive an SMS and Email confirming your request.
5. You will receive a video consultation link by SMS and Email when your appointment is near.
6. Click the link to start your consultation.
7. Once complete, you will receive a link by SMS and Email on the amount payable to the clinic.
8. If you have selected delivery of medication, a delivery fee will apply to your final bill amount.

What are the charges for the delivery of Medication within Singapore?

A standard delivery fee of $15.00 will be charged for medication delivery within Singapore. You will receive your medication within 3 hours.

Please note the following surcharges apply to the following area:

Orchard Road - $2
Tuas - $4
Sentosa and Airport - $10

Doctor Name	Doctor Specialty (Special Interest)
Dr Alison Joanne Lee	Paediatric Medicine (Allergy & Immunology)
Dr Chan Kit Yee	Paediatric Medicine (Cardiology)
Dr Charmaine Teo	Paediatric Medicine
Dr Jenny Tang	Paediatric Medicine (Asthma, Lung, Sleep & Allergy)
Dr Martha Liu	Paediatric Medicine
Dr Nancy Tan	Paediatric Medicine (Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition)
Dr Natalie Epton	Paediatric Medicine (Neonatology)
Dr Ratna Sridjaja	Paediatric Medicine
Dr Wong Chin Khoon	Paediatric Medicine
Dr Ng Ying Woo	Obstetrics & Gynaecology*

Is Tele-consultation platform available for me if I am outside of Singapore?

Tele-consultation outside of Singapore is only applicable for FOLLOW-UP for pre-existing and stable chronic conditions.
All cases will be subjected to approval by the physician.
Medication delivery is subjected to availability and customs restrictions.

Is Tele-consultation available with our Obstetrics & Gynaecology Specialist?

Tele-consultation is also available with our Obstetrics & Gynaecology specialist
To book an appointment, either call our clinic at 6774 1654, Whatsapp/SMS at 9633 3784 or email sbccwomenclinic.clementi@sbcc.sg