Don't Do This If You Have a Stomach Ache

What not to do with a stomach ache?

Often in villages, when a child experiences stomach pain they might be advised to try “thokkam”.

This refers to a practice where a person places one end of a tunnel-like tube in the child’s mouth and the other end in his mouth. Then the person sucks air through the pipe to take out any object that is in the child’s stomach.

This method is not recommended since it is not possible to take out an object in the stomach through sucking and it can even result in further complications. It is best to consult with a child specialist if you think that your child is not eating properly or is having a stomach ache.