Abdominal Pain Causes

Abdominal pain can have many causes. Often the specific symptoms help determine the cause of
the pain.

Causes of abdominal pain

Cause Most common symptoms
• Abdominal pain or cramping
Gastrointestinal problems, such as constipation,
• Change in bowel habits
gallbladder disease, bowel obstruction, pancreatitis,
• Nausea or vomiting
appendicitis, gastritis, peptic ulcer disease,
• Bloating
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or
• Blood in stool or in vomit
diverticulitis
• Diarrhea
• Nausea (feeling sick to your
stomach)
Food poisoning
• Vomiting
• Abdominal cramps

• Burning when urinating

• Blood in the urine
• Flank pain or lower pelvic pain
Urinary problems, such as a kidney stone, kidney • Need to urinate small amounts
disease, kidney infection, or bladder infection frequently
• Unable to urinate
• Fever

• Chronic, generalized abdominal

pain
Dietary, such as lactose intolerance or food allergy • Diarrhea (nonbloody)
• Gas and bloating

• Diarrhea (may be bloody)

• Fever (may come and go)
• Generalized abdominal pain
Inflammatory disease, such as Crohn's disease or
(frequently awakens you at
ulcerative colitis
night)
• Weight loss

• Chronic or intermittent
abdominal pain with either
Irritable bowel syndrome diarrhea or constipation (pain
does not awaken you at night)
• Increases with stress
 • No weight loss

• Abdominal pain (may be severe)

• Vaginal bleeding
Ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage • Positive risk factors for
pregnancy

• Diarrhea (nonbloody)
• Abdominal pain or cramping
Infection with a parasite, such as giardia • Gas and bloating
• Weight loss

• Abdominal pain or cramping

• Fever
Female reproductive problems, such as endometriosis • Abnormal vaginal bleeding
or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) • Abnormal vaginal discharge
• Pain with intercourse

• Abdominal pain
• Pain in the arms and legs, the
Sickle cell disease
chest, or the spinal bones

• Sudden abdominal pain or back

pain
Blood vessel problems, such as an aortic aneurysm or
• Drop in blood pressure
peripheral arterial disease
• Signs of shock

• Abdominal pain
• Bulging area in the belly or
Hernias, such as hiatal, inguinal, or umbilical
groin