Abdominal pain and other illness

Many chronic illnesses, such as sickle cell disease, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and cystic fibrosis, can cause abdominal pain.

Sudden (acute) illnesses, such as strep throat and influenza (flu), can cause abdominal pain when the glands (lymph nodes) in the belly become swollen or inflamed. This inflammation of the glands is called mesenteric adenitis.