Abdominal pain

Conditions that cause acute abdominal pain usually happen at the same time as other symptoms that develop over hours to days. Causes can range from minor conditions that go away without any treatment to serious medical emergencies, including:

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm (when a blood vessel in the heart becomes enlarged)
• Appendicitis
• Cholangitis (which is inflammation of the bile duct)
• Cholecystitis (which is inflammation of the gallbladder)
• Cystitis (which is inflammation of the bladder)
• Diabetic ketoacidosis (when there are high levels of ketones in the blood)
• Diverticulitis (which is inflammation of the digestive tract)
• Duodenitis (which is inflammation of the top part of the small intestine)
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Fecal impaction (which is hardened stool that can't be passed)
• Heart attack
• Injury
• Intestinal obstruction
• Intussusception (a condition in which part of the intestine slides into an adjacent part of the intestine)
• Kidney infection
• Kidney stones
• Liver abscess (a pus-filled pocket in the liver)
• Mesenteric ischemia (which is decreased blood flow to the intestines)
• Mesenteric lymphadenitis (when lymph nodes in the folds of membrane that hold the abdominal organs in place swell)
• Mesenteric thrombosis (a blood clot in a vein carrying blood away from your intestines)
• Pancreatitis (which is inflammation of the pancreas)
• Pericarditis (which is inflammation of the tissue around the heart)
• Peritonitis (which is an infection of the abdominal lining)
• Pleurisy (which is inflammation of the membrane surrounding the lungs)
• Pneumonia
• Pulmonary infarction (which is loss of blood flow to the lungs)
• Ruptured spleen
• Salpingitis (which is inflammation of the fallopian tubes)
• Sclerosing mesenteritis (which is inflammation of tissue surrounding the small intestines)
• Shingles
• Spleen infection
• Splenic abscess (which is a pus-filled pocket in the spleen)
• Torn colon
• Urinary tract infection (UTI)
• Viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu)

The specific cause of chronic abdominal pain is often difficult to determine. Symptoms may range from mild to severe, coming and going but not necessarily getting worse over time. Conditions that may cause chronic abdominal pain include:

• Angina (which is reduced blood flow to the heart)
• Celiac disease
• Endometriosis
• Functional dyspepsia (which is recurring symptoms of an upset stomach)
• Gallstones
• Gastritis (which is inflammation of the stomach lining)
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Hiatal hernia
• Inguinal hernia
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Mittelschmerz (which is pain during ovulation)
• Ovarian cysts
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) (an infection of the female reproductive organs)
• Peptic ulcer (which is an open sore on the lining of the stomach and upper small intestine)
• Sickle cell anemia
• Strained or pulled abdominal muscle
• Ulcerative colitis

Abdominal pain that steadily worsens over time is usually serious. This pain often leads to the development of other symptoms. Causes of progressive abdominal pain include:

• Cancer
• Crohn's disease
• Enlarged spleen (splenomegaly)
• Gallbladder cancer
• Hepatitis (which is inflammation of the liver)
• Kidney cancer
• Lead poisoning
• Liver cancer
• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
• Pancreatic cancer
• Stomach cancer
• Tubo-ovarian abscess (which is a pus-filled pocket involving a fallopian tube and an ovary)
• Uremia (which is buildup of waste products in your blood)

Seek help if your abdominal pain is severe and is associated with:

• Trauma, such as an accident or injury.
• Pressure or pain in your chest.

Have someone drive you to urgent care or the emergency room if you have:

• Severe pain.
• Fever.
• Bloody stools.
• Nausea and vomiting that won't go away.
• Weight loss.
• Skin that appears discolored.
• Severe tenderness when you touch your abdomen.
• Swelling of the abdomen.

Make an appointment with a healthcare professional if your abdominal pain worries you or lasts more than a few days.

In the meantime, find ways to ease your pain. For instance, drink enough fluids and eat smaller meals if your pain is accompanied by indigestion. Avoid taking nonprescription pain relievers or laxatives unless directed by a healthcare professional.