Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsEmergency SignsCausesWhen to See a ProviderAt-Home Treatments
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Emergency Signs
Causes
When to See a Provider
At-Home Treatments
Also make sure to talk to a healthcare provider if you experience diarrhea lasting more than five days, fever lasting three days or longer, or abdominal pain that worsens or stays the same within one or two days. If you’re pregnant or have had recent abdominal surgery, you should consider any stomach pain potentially serious.
Verywell / JR Bee
Signs to Seek Emergency Care
Sometimes stomach pain is mild at first but gets worse after a few hours. These symptoms may not develop until that time.
If you experience these symptoms, call an ambulance or have someone drive you to the ER. You should not “wait and see” or take medicine for the pain. Get help right away.
Causes of Serious Stomach Pain
These emergencies usually cause pain that feels extreme.
Other circumstances in which you should discuss stomach pain with a healthcare provider include when:
Stomach Pain in ChildrenStomach pains are common in children. Causes include indigestion, stress, constipation, food allergies, or more serious cases like appendicitis. Stomach pain of three hours or less is usually not severe.Call your healthcare provider immediately if a child has a fever of 100.4 F or other symptoms such as diarrhea that could lead to dehydration.
Stomach Pain in Children
Stomach pains are common in children. Causes include indigestion, stress, constipation, food allergies, or more serious cases like appendicitis. Stomach pain of three hours or less is usually not severe.Call your healthcare provider immediately if a child has a fever of 100.4 F or other symptoms such as diarrhea that could lead to dehydration.
Lower Abdominal Pain
The area of your stomach below your belly button is called your lower abdomen. Pain in this area can have many different causes. While it may be a sign of an emergency such as appendicitis, it may also be related to minor ailments or situations that don’t need immediate medical attention, including:
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Some kinds of stomach pain need immediate attention. With others, you can call or visit your healthcare provider. It can be hard to know what you should do. Listen to your body and trust your instincts if you’re not sure. Speak to your healthcare provider if you have:
You should also call your healthcare provider if you have stomach pain while being treated for cancer.
If yourstomach painis not severe or long-lasting, and if you’re not having symptoms like those mentioned above, the pain may go away on its own.
You can also try taking these steps:
Your symptoms may improve within a day or two. If they do not, call your healthcare provider.
What Is the Best Pain Reliever for Stomach Pain?Some people choose to take OTC pain relievers for stomach pain, and you can, but choose wisely. Avoid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin, Motrin or Advil (ibuprofen), or Aleve (naproxen). These can irritate your stomach lining and cause ulcers. Tylenol (acetaminophen) tends to be easier on the stomach.
What Is the Best Pain Reliever for Stomach Pain?
Some people choose to take OTC pain relievers for stomach pain, and you can, but choose wisely. Avoid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin, Motrin or Advil (ibuprofen), or Aleve (naproxen). These can irritate your stomach lining and cause ulcers. Tylenol (acetaminophen) tends to be easier on the stomach.
Summary
Stomach pain may mean you have an urgent medical problem such as appendicitis or a blockage or leak in your intestines. A hard stomach, vomiting, bleeding, dizziness, or fainting are signs of a medical emergency when they occur along with stomach pain.
If you’re pregnant, being treated for cancer, or have had an abdominal procedure or trauma, don’t wait. Go to the emergency room right away if you experience stomach pain.
Call your healthcare provider if you have other symptoms, such as fever or diarrhea, with stomach pain. You may have a health condition that needs treatment. Otherwise, you may be able to try some home remedies to ease the pain.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cervellin G, Mora R, Ticinesi A, et al.Epidemiology and outcomes of acute abdominal pain in a large urban emergency department: retrospective analysis of 5,340 cases.Ann Transl Med.2016;4(19):362. doi:10.21037/atm.2016.09.10Lohsiriwat V.Anorectal emergencies.World J Gastroenterol. 2016;22(26):5867-5878. doi:10.3748/wjg.v22.i26.5867Michigan Medicine.Abdominal pain, age 11 and younger.Harvard Health Publishing.Where to turn for pain relief - acetaminophen or NSAIDs?.Additional ReadingPoonai N, Cowie A, Davidson C, et al.Reported provision of analgesia to patients withacute abdominal pain in Canadian pediatric emergency departments.CJEM. 2016;18(5):323-30. doi:10.1017/cem.2015.112Wöhrl S.NSAID hypersensitivity - recommendations for diagnostic workup andpatient management.Allergo J Int. 2018;27(4):114-121. doi:10.1007/s40629-018-0064-0
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cervellin G, Mora R, Ticinesi A, et al.Epidemiology and outcomes of acute abdominal pain in a large urban emergency department: retrospective analysis of 5,340 cases.Ann Transl Med.2016;4(19):362. doi:10.21037/atm.2016.09.10Lohsiriwat V.Anorectal emergencies.World J Gastroenterol. 2016;22(26):5867-5878. doi:10.3748/wjg.v22.i26.5867Michigan Medicine.Abdominal pain, age 11 and younger.Harvard Health Publishing.Where to turn for pain relief - acetaminophen or NSAIDs?.Additional ReadingPoonai N, Cowie A, Davidson C, et al.Reported provision of analgesia to patients withacute abdominal pain in Canadian pediatric emergency departments.CJEM. 2016;18(5):323-30. doi:10.1017/cem.2015.112Wöhrl S.NSAID hypersensitivity - recommendations for diagnostic workup andpatient management.Allergo J Int. 2018;27(4):114-121. doi:10.1007/s40629-018-0064-0
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Cervellin G, Mora R, Ticinesi A, et al.Epidemiology and outcomes of acute abdominal pain in a large urban emergency department: retrospective analysis of 5,340 cases.Ann Transl Med.2016;4(19):362. doi:10.21037/atm.2016.09.10Lohsiriwat V.Anorectal emergencies.World J Gastroenterol. 2016;22(26):5867-5878. doi:10.3748/wjg.v22.i26.5867Michigan Medicine.Abdominal pain, age 11 and younger.Harvard Health Publishing.Where to turn for pain relief - acetaminophen or NSAIDs?.
Cervellin G, Mora R, Ticinesi A, et al.Epidemiology and outcomes of acute abdominal pain in a large urban emergency department: retrospective analysis of 5,340 cases.Ann Transl Med.2016;4(19):362. doi:10.21037/atm.2016.09.10
Lohsiriwat V.Anorectal emergencies.World J Gastroenterol. 2016;22(26):5867-5878. doi:10.3748/wjg.v22.i26.5867
Michigan Medicine.Abdominal pain, age 11 and younger.
Harvard Health Publishing.Where to turn for pain relief - acetaminophen or NSAIDs?.
Poonai N, Cowie A, Davidson C, et al.Reported provision of analgesia to patients withacute abdominal pain in Canadian pediatric emergency departments.CJEM. 2016;18(5):323-30. doi:10.1017/cem.2015.112Wöhrl S.NSAID hypersensitivity - recommendations for diagnostic workup andpatient management.Allergo J Int. 2018;27(4):114-121. doi:10.1007/s40629-018-0064-0
Poonai N, Cowie A, Davidson C, et al.Reported provision of analgesia to patients withacute abdominal pain in Canadian pediatric emergency departments.CJEM. 2016;18(5):323-30. doi:10.1017/cem.2015.112
Wöhrl S.NSAID hypersensitivity - recommendations for diagnostic workup andpatient management.Allergo J Int. 2018;27(4):114-121. doi:10.1007/s40629-018-0064-0
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