Children may feel stomach pain for a range of reasons and may need treatment. Adhesions may have no signs or symptoms, or they may cause pain by pulling on nerves. Severe allergic reactions anaphylaxis and asthma attacks need urgent emergency first aid. In an emergency, always call triple zero Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional.
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The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. Skip to main content. Digestive system. Home Digestive system. Abdominal pain in adults. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. When to see a doctor about abdominal pain Symptoms of abdominal pain in adults Causes of abdominal pain in adults Diagnosis of abdominal pain in adults Treatment for abdominal pain in adults Taking care of yourself at home Where to get help.
Symptoms of abdominal pain in adults The type of pain can vary greatly. Causes of abdominal pain in adults There are many reasons why you may have pain in your abdomen. Abdominal pain. Acute abdomen. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. Updated by: Michael M.
Editorial team. Almost everyone has pain in the abdomen at some point. Most of the time, it is not serious. How bad your pain is does not always reflect the seriousness of the condition causing the pain. Other ways to describe pain in your abdomen include: Generalized pain -- This means that you feel it in more than half of your belly. This type of pain is more typical for a stomach virus, indigestion, or gas. If the pain becomes more severe, it may be caused by a blockage of the intestines. Localized pain -- This is pain found in only one area of your belly.
It is more likely to be a sign of a problem in an organ, such as the appendix, gallbladder, or stomach. Cramp-like pain -- This type of pain is not serious most of the time. It is likely to be due to gas and bloating, and is often followed by diarrhea. More worrisome signs include pain that occurs more often, lasts more than 24 hours, or occurs with a fever.
Colicky pain -- This type of pain comes in waves. It very often starts and ends suddenly, and is often severe. This is when the small pouches inside the large intestine become infected or inflamed. Other symptoms may include a low-grade fever, nausea, vomiting or constipation. Health Home Wellness and Prevention.
Why Does My Stomach Hurt? Constipation You may experience sharp gas pains that occur throughout the abdomen area if constipation is the reason for your abdominal pain. Ulcers An ulcer is a sore on the lining of your stomach or first part of the small intestine.
Food poisoning may take a few hours or days to develop and then may last for several days. Abdominal pain is frequently caused by a problem in the digestive tract the gut. However, it can also be caused by other organs located in the abdomen, such as the kidneys. Large blood vessels, such as the aorta are also found in the abdomen and may give rise to pain. Abdominal pain can even be caused by some medicines. Some of the causes of abdominal pain are short-term acute , whereas others are long-term or ongoing chronic conditions.
Find more information about the underlying causes of abdominal pain here. In some cases, you should seek urgent medical attention or consult a doctor if you have abdominal pain. If you have a sudden, severe, incapacitating pain in your abdomen, go immediately to your nearest emergency department or call triple zero and ask for an ambulance. If you are experiencing pain high up in your abdomen that is made worse by exercise it could be angina or a heart attack.
If you, or someone near you is experiencing symptoms of a heart attack, call triple zero immediately and ask for an ambulance. If you are pregnant and experiencing abdominal pain, check with your doctor or midwife.
Abdominal pains are common in pregnancy, but should always be checked out. If your abdominal pain does not match the situations above, but it is recurrent keeps coming back or persistent ongoing , or it started mild but is worsening, you should still consult a doctor.
Abdominal pain is one of the most common symptoms seen by GPs doctors who work in general practice. Information about your symptoms and the location of the abdominal pain can help a doctor diagnose the cause of your pain. They will want to know how long you have had the pain and may want to do a physical examination. If you are female, this may include a pelvic examination.
If you are male, it may include checking your penis and scrotum. They may suggest you have some blood tests or other diagnostic procedures done, especially if you have had the symptoms for some time.
Use the Question Builder for general tips on what to ask your GP or specialist. Mild abdominal pain may go away on its own within hours or days. Mild pain and related symptoms can also often be treated with medicines from the pharmacy. Your pharmacist will be able to advise you on what type of product is best suited to your situation. You should not use aspirin or anti-inflammatory medicines , such as ibuprofen, to treat abdominal pain, other than period pain. These medicines may cause or irritate a stomach or bowel problem.
Gas — Medicines designed to break down gas bubbles, such as antacids containing simethicone, are available over the counter. Gas-reducing medicines such as charcoal products, may help with ongoing wind problems. Dietary changes may also help.
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