Digestive Diseases: Abdominal Pain

Just about everybody at one point or another will experience abdominal pain. Most of the causes of abdominal pain are not serious and can be readily diagnosed and treated. However, abdominal pain can also be a sign of a serious illness. It is important to be able to recognize symptoms that are severe and know when to call a doctor.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Abdominal Pain?

Whether it is a mild stomach ache, sharp pain or stomach cramps, abdominal pain has numerous causes. These include:

• Indigestion
• Constipation
• Stomach "flu"
• Menstrual cramps
• Food poisoning
• Food allergies
• Gas
• Lactose intolerance
• Ulcers
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Hernia
• Gallstones
• Kidney stones
• Endometriosis
• Crohn's disease
• Urinary tract infection
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

What Symptoms of Abdominal Pain Are Cause for Concern?

If your abdominal pain is severe or if it is accompanied by any of the following symptoms, contact your doctor as soon as possible:

• Fever
• Inability to keep food down for several days
• Inability to pass stool, especially if you are also vomiting
• Vomiting blood
• Bloody stools
• Difficulty breathing
• Painful or unusually frequent urination
• The pain occurs during pregnancy
• The abdomen is tender to the touch
• The pain is the result of an injury to the abdomen in the previous days
• The pain lasts for several days

These symptoms can be an indication of an internal problem that requires treatment as soon as possible.

How Is the Cause of Abdominal Pain Determined?

Because there are so many potential causes of abdominal pain, your doctor will perform a thorough physical examination, discuss with you the type of symptoms you are experiencing, and ask you several related questions about the pain you are feeling. These questions may include:

• What type of pain are you experiencing? Is the pain throughout your abdomen or is it confined to a particular area?
• Where in your abdomen does the pain seem to be located?
• What type of pain are you experiencing? Is it stabbing and severe? Is it a dull ache?
• When does the pain occur? Always? More often in the morning or at night? If the pain comes and goes, about how long does it last each time? Does it occur after eating certain types of foods or after drinking alcohol? During menstruation?
• How long have you had this pain?
• Does the pain also radiate in your lower back, shoulder, groin or buttocks?
• Are you currently taking any medications or herbal supplements?
• Are you pregnant?
• Does any activity such as eating or lying on one side relieve the pain?
• Have you been injured recently?

Once an initial evaluation has been completed, your doctor may have you undergo some tests to help him or her make the diagnosis. These may include stool or urine tests, barium swallows or enemas, an endoscopy, x-ray or ultrasound.

How Is Abdominal Pain Treated?

Treating abdominal pain depends on its cause. This can range from medications for inflammation, GERD or ulcers, to antibiotics for infections, to changes in personal behavior for abdominal pain caused by certain foods or beverages. In some cases such as appendicitis and hernia, surgery is necessary.

Reviewed by The Cleveland Clinic Department of Gastroenterology.