
Chronic pain can be present for months or years at a time. Examples of acute abdominal pain can include gastrointestinal infection (may be mild or severe), appendicitis (inflammation of the appendix), cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder), or an obstruction of your colon or small intestine.Ĭhronic abdominal pain is recurring and can come and go away without really worsening over a period of time. You should also see a doctor or go to the emergency room if the pain worsens rapidly or you begin to experience fevers, severe or worsening nausea/vomiting, or diarrhea. If sudden-onset pain lasts longer than this, you should see a doctor. It may improve within a few hours to a few days, depending on the cause. Pain when passing urine and passing urine more frequentlyĪcute abdominal pain usually comes on suddenly and is sharp/severe.Constant or intermittent (comes and goes).Sometimes you may find your stomach ache is relieved once you have been to the toilet, as stomach pain is a common symptom of diarrhoea and constipation. Many different types of pain can be classed as stomach ache. But how do you know when abdominal pain is serious enough to seek help?
You may have heard it called stomach ache, belly ache, or tummy ache, and, most of the time, it’s not serious enough to warrant medical attention. The cause is often not serious and can be managed.Stomach pain or abdominal pain is common and can have a range of causes. See your GP if you or your child have persistent or repeated abdominal pain.
Gastroenteritis may be caused by coming into close contact with someone who's infected, or by eating contaminated food (food poisoning).
night time symptoms disturbing your sleep. painless, watery, high-volume diarrhoea - increased risk of dehydration. recent hospital treatment or antibiotic treatment. It can last for up to 14 days, and this would not require you to see your GP unless you have any of the following features: This means you have a viral or bacterial infection of the stomach and bowel, which should get better without treatment after a few days. If your stomach cramps have started recently and you also have diarrhoea, the cause may be a tummy bug ( gastroenteritis). If problems persist, you should see your GP. Your pharmacist will be able to recommend a product, which can be bought over the counter to treat the problem. This is a very common problem that can be embarrassing, but is easily dealt with. Stomach cramps with bloating are often caused by trapped wind, or constipation. It may also be caused by a pulled muscle in your abdomen or by an injury. Constipation may also cause abdominal pain. Sudden and severe pain in your abdomen can also sometimes be caused by an infection of the stomach and bowel ( gastroenteritis). If your GP suspects you have one of these conditions, they may refer you to hospital immediately. The main symptom of acute pancreatitis is a severe, dull pain around the top of your stomach that develops suddenly Pancreatitis - a serious condition where the pancreas becomes inflamed. diverticulitis – inflammation of the small pouches in the bowel that sometimes requires treatment with antibiotics in hospital. kidney stones – small stones may be passed out in your urine, but larger stones may block the kidney tubes, and you'll need to go to hospital to have them broken up. acute cholecystitis – inflammation of the gallbladder, which is often caused by gallstones in many cases, your gallbladder will need to be removed. a bleeding or perforated stomach ulcer – a bleeding, open sore in the lining of your stomach or duodenum (the first part of the small intestine). appendicitis – the swelling of the appendix (a finger-like pouch connected to the large intestine), which causes agonising pain in the lower right-hand side of your abdomen, and means your appendix will need to be removed. Serious causes of sudden severe abdominal pain include: It may be a sign of a serious problem that could rapidly get worse without treatment. If you have sudden agonising pain in a particular area of your tummy, which persists, call your GP immediately or go to your nearest emergency department. If you feel pain in the area around your ribs, see the section on chest pain. If it starts suddenly and unexpectedly, and persists, it should be regarded as a medical emergency, especially if the pain is concentrated in a particular area.Ĭall your GP or go to your nearest hospital emergency department if this is the case. Severe abdominal pain is a greater cause for concern. It's usually short-lived and is often not serious.
A stomach ache is a term often used to refer to cramps or a dull ache in the tummy (abdomen).