Signs and Symptoms

Depending on the duration of the pain, abdominal pain can be either acute or chronic.

• Acute abdominal pain: Acute abdominal pain refers to a brief period of discomfort that began recently.
• Chronic abdominal pain: When pain in the abdomen lasts for more than three months, it is known as chronic pain.

Abdominal pain can also be described in the following ways:

• Localised pain: This is an ache that exclusively affects one part of your stomach. Issues with a particular organ such as the gall bladder, appendix or stomach could lead to this kind of pain.
• Generalised pain: This type of pain is felt in more than half of the abdominal area. Some of the common causes of this type of pain include indigestion, gas, or a stomach virus. In severe cases, it could point towards a blocked intestine.
• Cramp-like pain: In most cases, gas and bloating can lead to cramp-like pain. However, when this pain is accompanied by fever, goes on for more than 24 hours or occurs more frequently, it could be attributed to a more severe underlying problem.
• Colicky pain: This kind of pain begins and ends abruptly and is most severe. It is frequently caused by kidney stones, gallstones and intestinal obstruction.

Causes

Acute abdominal pain could be caused by various conditions, ranging from a benign and self-limiting sickness to a surgical emergency. Chronic abdominal pain could be caused by a chronic disorder such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) that can last for a long time.

The following conditions could cause sudden and severe abdominal pain:

• Appendicitis: This condition arises due to inflammation (swelling) in the appendix, which will require surgical removal.
• Kidney stones: These are stones of calcium or other substances that form in the kidney. The small stones are easily passed through urine. However, larger stones may obstruct the renal tubes, necessitating hospitalisation.
• Acute cholecystitis: The gallbladder develops a swelling in this condition. Acute cholecystitis may require surgical removal of the gall bladder.
• Diverticulitis: A condition wherein one or more tiny pouches in the colon become inflamed or infected.
• Gallstones: The presence of stones in the gall bladder can also cause acute abdominal pain.
• Gastroenteritis: It is the inflammation of the small intestine caused by a viral or bacterial infection.
• A bleeding aneurysm: Leakage from the aorta (main artery from the heart) can cause severe abdominal pain.
• Hernia: A hernia in the abdominal region can also cause pain.

The following conditions cause recurring or long-term abdominal pain:

• IBS: It is a condition of the large intestine causing spasms (contractions) of the bowel muscles. In most cases, the pain is relieved after passing stools.
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease (swelling of the digestive tract) are the two forms of IBD that cause abdominal pain.
• Menstrual pain: Monthly periods tend to cause cramp-like pain in the abdomen.
• Heartburn and acid reflux (backflow of acid from the stomach to the food pipe)
• A recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI)
• Ulcer (open sore) of the stomach
• Constipation

In children, the most likely causes of abdominal pain are:

• Constipation
• Lactose Intolerance or milk allergy
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (stomach acid or bile flows into the food pipe and irritates its lining)
• UTI 
• Appendicitis

When To See A Doctor?

Get medical help right away if your stomach pain becomes unbearable or is accompanied by any of the following symptoms:

• Fever
• Difficulty breathing
• Pain in your neck, chest, or shoulder
• The stomach is tender, hard, or rigid to touch
• If you are unable to pass stool
• Nausea and vomiting
• Blood in vomit or stool

Abdominal pain requires investigation by a doctor if it is associated with:

• Unexplained weight loss
• Discomfort in the abdomen that lasts a week or more
• More than five days of diarrhoea
• Burning sensation during urination
• Fever with pain
• Loss of appetite
• Pregnancy
• Recent injury to the abdominal area
• Bloating for more than two days