Symptom · Abdomen
Abdominal pain
Also known as: stomach ache, belly pain, tummy pain
Pain between the ribs and the pelvis. Where it sits, how it started and what makes it better or worse point to the organ involved: the gut, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidneys, bladder and reproductive organs all lie here, and some pain is referred from the chest or spine.
What it is
Pain between the ribs and the pelvis. Where it sits, how it started and what makes it better or worse point to the organ involved: the gut, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidneys, bladder and reproductive organs all lie here, and some pain is referred from the chest or spine.
Common causes
GastroenteritisCramping pain with vomiting and diarrhoea, usually viral, lasting a few days.
Indigestion, reflux and peptic ulcerBurning or gnawing upper abdominal pain related to meals.
Constipation and irritable bowel syndromeBloating and cramping relieved by passing stool or wind.
Trapped wind and food intoleranceBloating and cramps after particular foods.
Urinary tract infectionLower abdominal ache with burning on passing urine and frequency.
Period painCramping low abdominal pain in the days around menstruation.
Less common causes
AppendicitisPain starting around the navel and moving to the lower right, with loss of appetite, nausea and fever.
Gallstones and cholecystitisSevere right upper pain after fatty meals, sometimes with fever or jaundice.
PancreatitisConstant severe upper pain boring through to the back, with vomiting, often after alcohol or with gallstones.
Kidney stonesAgonising waves of pain from loin to groin with blood in the urine.
Bowel obstructionColicky pain, vomiting, swelling and no wind or stool.
Ectopic pregnancyLow one-sided pain with a missed period; an emergency.
Abdominal aortic aneurysmDeep pain with collapse in an older person.
Often occurs with
Seek urgent care if
- Sudden severe pain, or pain with a rigid, very tender abdomen
- Pain with repeated vomiting, vomiting blood or black tarry stools
- Pain with fever and inability to keep fluids down
- Pain in pregnancy or possible pregnancy, especially one-sided with bleeding
- Pain with collapse, a racing pulse or cold clammy skin
Conditions to read about
AppendicitisGallstonesPeptic ulcerPancreatitisKidney stonesUrinary tract infectionInflammatory bowel disease
How it is investigated
Educational content. This page explains what a symptom can mean so that the anatomy and the medical reasoning make sense. It cannot tell you what is causing yours: only a clinician who can examine you and order tests can do that.