Abdominal Pain

Key facts

• Abdominal pain is discomfort anywhere between the chest and pelvis. It can be sharp, dull, cramping, or constant, and the pattern is a useful clue to the cause.
• Most cases are digestive: gas, constipation, gastroenteritis, or food intolerance. Pain can also originate in the liver, gallbladder, kidneys, or reproductive organs, so location matters.
• Treatment depends on the cause. Antacids and antispasmodics ease digestive pain, and general pain relief such as paracetamol can manage mild discomfort while the underlying issue resolves.
• Seek prompt medical care for pain that is severe or sudden, comes with fever or vomiting blood, or does not ease within a day or two.

What causes it

Most abdominal pain traces back to the gut: gastroenteritis, trapped gas, constipation, or a food intolerance account for the majority of cases. Infections from contaminated food or water are common culprits too, and can cause pain alongside diarrhoea, nausea, or fever.

Beyond the gut, pain can originate in the liver, gallbladder, kidneys, or reproductive organs, so where it sits is a useful clue. Pain in the upper right that follows a fatty meal points toward the gallbladder. Sudden pain in the lower right in a younger person raises the possibility of appendicitis and needs same-day assessment.

How it's managed

Management depends entirely on the cause. Digestive pain usually responds to antacids, antispasmodics, or simple dietary changes such as smaller meals and cutting back on fatty or spicy food. General pain relief, including paracetamol, can ease mild-to-moderate discomfort while a digestive upset settles. Pain caused by infection needs antimicrobial treatment matched to the organism involved, and structural problems such as gallstones or appendicitis need surgical assessment rather than medicine alone. Treating persistent or severe pain at home without knowing the cause risks masking a condition that needs prompt attention.

When to see a doctor

Get medical attention quickly if the pain is severe, comes on suddenly, is accompanied by fever, vomiting blood, or dark or bloody stools, or does not ease within a day or two. Pain that worsens with movement or gentle pressure on the abdomen, or that comes with dizziness or fainting, also needs urgent assessment rather than waiting it out.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.