Causes of abdominal pain

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
Infection with a parasite, such as giardia	Diarrhea (nonbloody) Abdominal pain or cramping Gas and bloating Weight loss
Urinary problems, such as a kidney stone, kidney disease, kidney infection, or bladder infection	Burning when urinating Blood in the urine Flank pain or lower pelvic pain Need to urinate small amounts frequently Unable to urinate Fever
Dietary, such as lactose intolerance or food allergy	Chronic, generalized abdominal pain Diarrhea (nonbloody) Gas and bloating
Inflammatory disease, such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis	Diarrhea (may be bloody) Fever (may come and go) Generalized abdominal pain (frequently awakens you at night) Weight loss
Irritable bowel syndrome	Chronic or intermittent abdominal pain with either diarrhea or constipation (pain does not awaken you at night) Increases with stress No weight loss
Ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage	Abdominal pain (may be severe) Vaginal bleeding Positive risk factors for pregnancy
Gastrointestinal problems, such as constipation, gallbladder disease, bowel obstruction, pancreatitis, appendicitis, gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or diverticulitis	Abdominal pain or cramping Change in bowel habits Nausea or vomiting Bloating Blood in stool or in vomit
Female reproductive problems, such as endometriosis or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)	Abdominal pain or cramping Fever Abnormal vaginal bleeding Abnormal vaginal discharge Pain with intercourse
Sickle cell disease	Abdominal pain Pain in the arms and legs, the chest, or the spinal bones
Blood vessel problems, such as an aortic aneurysm or peripheral arterial disease	Sudden abdominal pain or back pain Drop in blood pressure Signs of shock
Hernias, such as hiatal, inguinal, or umbilical	Abdominal pain Bulging area in the belly or groin

Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: February 15, 2007
Medical Review:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine Jerome B. Simon, MD, FRCPC, FACP - Gastroenterology
© 1995-2008 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.