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Abdominal Pain, Age 12 and Older
Topic Overview
The cause of abdominal problems can be hard
to pinpoint. Sometimes minor and serious abdominal problems start with the same
symptoms. Fortunately, most abdominal problems are minor, and home treatment is
all that is needed.
Many times the exact
cause
of abdominal pain is hard to find. The severity of your pain, its
location, and other symptoms you have may help determine what is causing the
pain.
-
Generalized pain
 occurs
in half of the abdomen or more. Generalized pain can occur with many different
illnesses and will usually go away without medical treatment.
Indigestion and the
stomach flu are common problems that can cause
generalized pain. Home treatment may help relieve some of the discomfort.
Generalized mild pain or crampy pain that becomes more severe over several
hours may be a symptom of a blockage of the intestines (bowel
obstruction).
-
Localized pain is located in one area
of the abdomen. Localized pain that comes on suddenly and gets worse is more
likely to be a symptom of a serious problem. The pain of
appendicitis may start as generalized pain, but it
often moves (localizes) to one area of the abdomen. The pain from gallbladder
disease or
peptic ulcer disease often starts in one area of the
abdomen and stays in that same location. Localized pain that gradually becomes
more severe may be a symptom of inflammation of an abdominal
organ.
-
Cramping, which can be very painful, is rarely serious
if it is relieved by passing gas or a stool. Many women have cramping pain with
their menstrual periods. Generalized cramping pain is usually not a cause for
concern unless it gets worse, lasts for longer than 24 hours, or localizes.
Cramping that starts suddenly with diarrhea or other minor health problems can
be quite painful but is usually not serious.
Occasionally, severe pain that comes on suddenly may be a
symptom of a rupture of the stomach or intestines (perforation),
torsion of the testicle or
ovary, a
kidney stone,
gallbladder disease, or blood vessel problems, such as
an
aortic aneurysm. The pain caused by appendicitis or
gallbladder disease may increase when you move or cough. Pain that increases
with movement or coughing and does not appear to be caused by strained muscles
is more likely to be a symptom of a serious problem. A visit to a health
professional is usually needed when
severe abdominal pain comes on suddenly, or new and
different mild pain slowly becomes more severe over several hours or
days.
After a minor
abdominal injury, pain, nausea, or vomiting may occur
but often gets better in a few minutes. Pain and other symptoms that continue,
increase, or develop following an injury may mean an abdominal organ has been
damaged.
Many
medicines can cause abdominal pain. Some medicines
also cause side effects, such as constipation, that can make abdominal pain
worse.
Specific abdominal symptoms have been linked with
ovarian cancer. These symptoms include abdominal or
pelvic
pain, increased abdominal size or bloating, and difficulty eating or
feeling full quickly. If you have had these symptoms 12 or more times each
month over the past 12 months, talk with your doctor.
Review the
Emergencies and Check Your Symptoms sections to determine if and when you need
to see a health professional.
Emergencies
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Yes
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Do you have any of the following symptoms that require emergency treatment?
Call 911 or other emergency services immediately.
|
| Note: |
If you are pregnant and have severe pain in the belly, go to
the topic
Pregnancy-Related Problems for evaluation of your
symptoms.
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Check Your Symptoms
If you answer yes to any of the following questions, click on the "Yes" in front of the question for information about how soon to see a health professional.
Review
health risks that may increase the seriousness of your
symptoms.
Other Symptoms to Watch For
Do you have any of the following symptoms?
If a visit to a health professional is not needed immediately, see the Home Treatment section for self-care information.
Home Treatment
Most of the time, abdominal pain
improves with home treatment and you do not need a visit to a health
professional. Specific home treatment for abdominal pain often depends on the
symptoms you have along with the pain, such as diarrhea or nausea and
vomiting.
If you have mild abdominal pain without other symptoms,
try the following:
- Rest until you are feeling
better.
- Drink plenty of fluids to prevent
dehydration. You may find that taking small, frequent
sips of a beverage is easier on your stomach than trying to drink a whole glass
at once. Do not drink carbonated or caffeinated drinks, such as soda pop, tea,
or coffee.
- Try eating several small meals instead of 2 or 3 large
ones. Eat mild foods, such as rice, dry toast or crackers, bananas, and
applesauce. Do not eat spicy foods, other fruits, alcohol, and drinks that have
caffeine until 48 hours after all symptoms have gone away.
- Do not
eat foods that are high in fat. Foods high in fat may increase your abdominal
pain.
- Do not use aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
medicines, such as ibuprofen and naproxen. These medicines may irritate your
stomach and increase your pain.
Symptoms to Watch For During Home Treatment
Use the Check Your Symptoms section to
evaluate your symptoms if one or more of the following symptoms occur during
home treatment.
- Pain increases or
localizes to one specific area of the
abdomen.
- Pain does not improve in 24 to 48 hours.
- Other
symptoms develop, such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, a fever, or a change in
urination.
- Symptoms become more severe or frequent.
Prevention
Abdominal pain can often be
prevented.
- Develop regular bowel habits to prevent
abdominal pain caused by constipation. For more information, see the topic
Constipation, Age 12 and Older.
- Develop
regular eating habits. Overeating is a common cause of abdominal discomfort.
Eat slowly and stop when you feel full.
- To prevent abdominal pain
caused by swallowing air (aerophagia), do not chew gum or drink carbonated
beverages.
- Prevent abdominal injuries by wearing your seat belt
safely and correctly every time you drive or are a passenger in a car.
- Wear both your lap and shoulder belts. The
shoulder strap should cross the collarbone, and the lap belt should fit low and
tight.
- Do not wear your shoulder strap slipped behind the back or
under the arm. This dangerous habit can cause severe injury, especially in cars
with air bags.
Preparing For Your Appointment
To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.
You can help your
health professional diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to
answer the following questions:
- How long have you had the
pain?
- What were you doing when the pain started?
- Did
the pain start suddenly or develop gradually?
- How
severe is your pain? Rate your pain on a scale of 1 to
10.
- Is your pain generalized or
localized? If you have localized pain, where is it
located?
- Is your pain
cramping, a steady ache, burning, or a tearing
sensation?
- Is your pain changing? If so, how?
- Is the
pain constant, or does it come and go?
- Have you had other symptoms,
such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, a change in urination, or
fever?
- Have you had this type of pain before? If so, did you see a
health professional? How was the pain treated?
- What makes the pain
better? What makes the pain worse?
- Have you recently traveled
outside of the country?
- Have you drunk any untreated well, stream,
or lake water?
- Do you have any
health risks?
Related Information
Credits
| Author | Jan Nissl, RN, BS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Tracy Landauer |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | William M. Green, MD
- Emergency Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Jerome B. Simon, MD, FRCPC, FACP
- Gastroenterology |
| Last Updated | February 15, 2007 |
When to See a Doctor
See
significance of severe pain if you need information to
help you answer the question below.
Review
health risks that may increase the seriousness of your
symptoms.
 |
Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to
the following question.
| Note: |
Do not eat or drink
anything until you have talked with your health professional.
|
|
|
Yes
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Do you have
severe pain that is not relieved by passing gas or
having a bowel movement?
|
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
When to See a Doctor
See
significance of pregnancy if you need information to
help you answer the questions below.
Review
health risks that may increase the seriousness of your
symptoms.
 |
Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to
the following question.
|
|
Yes
|
Do you
have
mild abdominal pain?
|
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
When to See a Doctor
See
significance of injury if you need information to help
you answer the questions below.
Review
health risks that may increase the seriousness of your
symptoms.
|
Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to
any of the following questions.
| Note: |
Do not eat or drink
anything until you have talked with your health professional.
|
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Yes
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Do you have
severe pain after an injury?
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Yes
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Do you have bleeding from the
rectum,
urethra, or
vagina that started after an injury to the
abdomen?
|
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Yes
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Do
you have an abdominal wound that penetrated deeper than a scratch?
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Yes
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Do you have shoulder pain after an injury to the abdomen and you have not
had a shoulder injury?
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Yes
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Was your
injury intentionally caused by another person (abuse)?
|
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Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to
any of the following questions.
| Note: |
Do not eat, and
drink only sips of
clear liquids until you have talked with your health
professional.
|
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Yes
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Have you vomited more than one time after an injury to the
abdomen?
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Yes
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Do you have
moderate pain when pressing on the abdomen 1 hour
after an injury to the abdomen?
|
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You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to
any of the following questions.
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Yes
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Have you had
nausea for longer than 24 hours?
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Yes
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Have you had heartburn or loss of appetite for longer than 24
hours?
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Yes
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Have you had ongoing
mild pain but no other symptoms for longer than 24
hours?
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If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
When to See a Doctor
See
significance of localized pain if you need information
to help you answer the questions below.
Review
health risks that may increase the seriousness of your
symptoms.
|
Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to
any of the following questions.
| Note: |
Do not eat or drink
anything until you have talked with your health professional.
|
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|
Yes
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Do
you have
severe
localized pain?
|
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Yes
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Do you have
moderate localized pain and all of the following
symptoms?
- Pain that has lasted for more than 4
hours and
- Pain that is increasing in
severity and
- Nausea or vomiting
|
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Yes
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Do you have any pain and you feel your heartbeat in your abdomen (a
pulsating sensation)?
|
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Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to
any of the following questions.
| Note: |
Do not eat, and
drink only sips of
clear liquids until you have talked with your health
professional.
|
|
|
Yes
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Have you had
moderate
localized pain for longer than 4 hours without other
symptoms?
|
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Yes
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Do
you have
pain with a new or different bulge at the navel or
groin?
|
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Yes
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Do you have
moderate pain that is different than your usual
menstrual cramps or pelvic pain?
|
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You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to
any of the following questions.
|
|
Yes
|
Have you had
mild localized abdominal pain without other symptoms
for longer than 24 hours?
|
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Yes
|
Have you had
mild
pelvic pain that is different than your usual
menstrual cramps or pelvic pain for longer than 24 hours and you have done a
pregnancy test and you are not pregnant?
|
 |
You need an appointment within the next 1 to 2 weeks if you answer "Yes" to
the following question.
|
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Yes
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Have you had
abdominal pain for longer than 1 week?
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If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
When to See a Doctor
See
significance of generalized or cramping pain if you
need information to help you answer the questions below.
Review
health risks that may increase the seriousness of your
symptoms.
|
Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to
any of the following questions.
| Note: |
Do not eat or drink
anything until you have talked with your health professional.
|
|
|
Yes
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Do you have
severe pain?
|
|
Yes
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Do you have any pain and you feel your heartbeat in your abdomen (a
pulsating sensation)?
|
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Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to
any of the following questions.
| Note: |
Do not eat, and
drink only sips of
clear liquids until you have talked with your health
professional.
|
|
|
Yes
|
Do you have
moderate pain that is getting worse?
|
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Yes
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Have you
had
moderate, unchanged pain for longer than 24
hours?
|
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You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to
the following question.
|
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Yes
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Have you had
mild, unchanged pain for longer than 24 hours?
|
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You need an appointment within the next 1 to 2 weeks if you answer "Yes" to
any of the following questions.
|
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Yes
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Have you
had abdominal pain for longer than 1 week?
|
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Yes
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Have you
had an unexplained weight loss of more than
5 lb (2 kg)?
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Yes
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Have you had any of the following symptoms off and on over the past 2 to
3 months?
- Pain in your pelvis or abdomen
- A bloated or
swollen abdomen
- Difficulty eating, or feeling full quickly
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If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
When to See a Doctor
See
significance of blood in your stool if you need
information to help you answer the questions below.
Review
health risks that may increase the seriousness of your
symptoms.
| Note: |
-
Call 911 or other emergency
services if you have blood in your stool and any
signs of shock, such as:
- Passing out (losing
consciousness).
- Feeling very dizzy or lightheaded, like you may
pass out.
- Feeling very weak or having trouble standing
up.
- Being less alert. You may suddenly be unable to respond to
questions, or you may be confused, restless, or fearful.
- Certain foods and medicines can change
how the stool looks. Taking medicines that contain bismuth, such as
Pepto-Bismol, or iron tablets can make the stool black, and eating lots of
beets may turn the stool red. Some food colorings also can change the color of
your stool. Eating foods that contain black or dark blue food coloring can turn
your stool black.
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Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to
the following question.
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Yes
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Have you had 1 or more normal-size to large stools that are mostly black
or bloody?
|
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Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to
any of the following questions.
|
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Yes
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Have you had 1 or more normal-size to large stools that are partly black
or bloody?
|
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Yes
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Have you had 1 or more small stools that are mostly black or bloody?
|
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You need an appointment within the next 1 to 2 weeks if you answer "Yes" to
the following question.
|
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Yes
|
Have you had streaks of blood in your stools?
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If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
When to See a Doctor
See
significance of blood in vomit if you need information
to help you answer the questions below.
Review
health risks that may increase the seriousness of your
symptoms.
| Note: |
When you vomit blood, watch for blood in the
stools, such as
tarry, black, or maroon stools. If you think you have
blood in your stool, be sure to answer the question in this section about blood
in the stool.
|
|
Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to
the following question.
| Note: |
Do not eat or drink
anything until you have talked with your health professional.
|
|
|
Yes
|
Have you vomited more than a streak of blood or material that looks like
coffee grounds, but you do not have
signs of shock?
|
|
Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to
the following question.
| Note: |
Do not eat, and
drink only sips of
clear liquids until you have talked with your health
professional.
|
|
|
Yes
|
Do you have a streak of bright red blood in your vomit and you are not
sure if the blood is from irritation of your nose or mouth while
vomiting?
|
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You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to
the following question.
|
|
Yes
|
Have you had a streak of blood in your vomit more than one time in the
past 24 hours and you are sure the blood is coming from your nose or mouth
?
|
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
When to See a Doctor
See
significance of fever if you need information to help
you answer the questions below.
Review
health risks that may increase the seriousness of your
symptoms.
| Note: |
If you need information on how to take a temperature,
see the topic
Body Temperature.
|
|
Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to
any of the following questions.
| Note: |
Do not eat or drink
anything until you have talked with your health professional.
|
|
|
Yes
|
Do you have a fever of
104°F (40°C) or higher?
|
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Yes
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Do you think
you have a high fever but you are unable to measure your temperature?
|
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Yes
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Do you have a fever of
101°F (38°C) or higher with
signs of severe infection, such as shaking chills?
|
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Yes
|
Do you think you have a moderate fever with signs of severe infection but
you are unable to measure your temperature?
|
|
Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to
any of the following questions.
| Note: |
Do not eat, and
drink only sips of
clear liquids until you have talked with your health
professional.
|
|
|
Yes
|
Do
you have a fever of
102°F (38.9°C) to
103°F (39.4°C) or
higher?
|
|
Yes
|
Do you
think you have a moderate fever but you are unable to measure your
temperature?
|
|
You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to
any of the following questions.
|
|
Yes
|
Have you
had a fever of 100°F (38°C) or
higher for 2 full days?
|
|
Yes
|
Do you think you have had a mild a fever for 2 full days but you are
unable to measure your temperature?
|
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
When to See a Doctor
See
significance of dehydration if you need information to
help you answer the questions below.
Review
health risks that may increase the seriousness of your
symptoms.
|
Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to
the following question.
|
|
Yes
|
Do you have symptoms of
moderate dehydration and you are unable to drink
enough to replace lost fluids?
|
|
You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to
the following question.
|
|
Yes
|
Have you had symptoms of
mild dehydration for longer than 12 hours and you are
unable to drink enough to replace lost fluids?
|
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
When to See a Doctor
See
significance of medicine causing abdominal pain if you
need information to help you answer the question below.
Review
health risks that may increase the seriousness of your
symptoms.
|
Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to
the following question.
|
|
Yes
|
Did your
abdominal pain start after taking a medicine?
| Note: |
If your answer is Yes:
- Call the health professional who
prescribed the medicine the same day to see whether you should stop taking the
medicine or take a different one. An appointment may not be
needed.
- If you are taking a medicine not prescribed by a health
professional, stop taking the medicine. Call your health professional if you
feel you need to keep taking the medicine or if you need help to control your
symptoms after you stop the medicine.
|
|
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
|
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| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS | Last Updated: February 15, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine
Jerome B. Simon, MD, FRCPC, FACP - Gastroenterology |
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