Abdominal Pain

Abdominal pain can have a variety of causes. Most abdominal discomfort is related to the digestive system, but it can also be related to cardiovascular system, musculoskeletal system, urinary system, and the reproductive system.

Warning Signs

You should be seen by your health care provider if you have:

  • Constant or increasing upper or lower abdominal pain with persistent low grade fever 100-101 degrees or higher for 3 days.
  • Constant or increasing upper or lower abdominal pain with nausea and significantly decreased or loss of appetite.
  • Constant or increasing upper or lower abdominal pain with increasing nausea and vomiting.
  • Increasing upper or lower abdominal pain with movement such as walking or driving on a bumpy road.
  • Abdominal pain with rectal bleeding.
  • Abdominal pain with bloody diarrhea.
  • Abdominal pain with diarrhea for more than 48 hours.
  • Abdominal pain with vomiting for more than 24 hours.

  • Abdominal pain, nausea, rapid pulse and breathing as a result of a sharp blow to the abdomen.

For women:

  • increasing lower abdominal or pelvic pain with unusual vaginal discharge and or pain with sexual intercourse.
  • increasing lower abdominal pain, you are sexually active, and you are late for your menstrual period.