- Your stomach pain might be more serious if you also have symptoms like sudden weight loss.
- Other indications are loss of appetite, fever, blood in your stool, or vomiting longer than 24 hours.
Anyone who has ever experienced food poisoning or dealt with a stomach virus is familiar with the pain, vomiting, and diarrhea that often accompany these illnesses. In most cases, these illnesses are short-lived lasting only a few days, and the stomach pain typically resolves on its own.
But stomach pain that persists for several days and is so severe you can't function can be a sign of a more serious health condition that requires medical care. Treatment options for stomach pain vary depending on the cause of the pain, but there are ways to reduce the pain and feel better.
How do I know if my stomach pain is serious?
It can be difficult to determine how serious stomach pain might be since stomach pain is a common symptom of many types of illnesses, including viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu), food poisoning, food allergies, and constipation.
But there are some signs to pay attention to that may indicate your stomach pain is serious and warrants immediate medical attention, says Dr. Hardeep Singh, a gastroenterologist with Providence St. Joseph Hospital.
Signs your stomach pain may be serious include:
1. Vomiting and diarrhea that lasts longer than 24 hours
2. Blood in stools, urine, vomit
3. Sudden weight loss
4. Lack of appetite
5. Swelling in your abdomen
6. Persistent fever
7. Severe pain that seems to get progressively worse
If you are experiencing stomach pain that does not resolve in a few days or is so severe you can't function, seek medical attention, says Dr. Nischita Merla, medical director of gastrointestinal disease at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center.
Serious conditions that may cause stomach pain
Stomach pain isn't always limited to the stomach, Merla says. Many people often refer to pain near the stomach as stomach pain, but the pain may actually be coming from a nearby organ and causing pain throughout your abdomen between your ribs and your pelvis.
Serious conditions that can cause abdominal pain include:
1. Appendicitis
Appendicitis is a disease caused by inflammation in the appendix that can lead to serious complications if left untreated. Appendicitis causes pain that typically starts around the navel and moves to the lower right side of the abdomen.
Symptoms of appendicitis include:
- Constant pain that gets worse over time
- Worsening pain when you cough or walk
- Low-grade fever
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
Appendicitis is considered a medical emergency and is treated with surgery to remove the appendix. If left untreated, appendicitis can cause the appendix to burst within 48 to 72 hours.
2. Cholecystitis
Cholecystitis, or inflammation of the gallbladder, can cause severe pain that comes on suddenly in the upper right side of the abdomen.
Other symptoms of cholecystitis include:
- Pain that begins in your right abdomen but may spread to your right shoulder or back
- Tenderness in your abdomen
- Fever
- Chills
- Nausea and vomiting
- Pain that worsens when taking a deep breath
- Pain that worsens after eating
Cholecystitis is treated in the hospital. Treatment may include pain medication, IV fluids, antibiotics, draining of the gallbladder, or surgery to remove the gallbladder.
3. Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, a gland that sits behind the stomach in the upper abdomen. Pancreatitis can cause severe and sharp pain that starts in the upper middle of your abdomen but may spread to your back or chest.
Other symptoms of pancreatitis include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fever
- Fluid buildup in your belly
- Swelling and soreness in your upper abdomen
- Rapid heart rate
- Visible bruising on your abdomen and sides
Treatment for pancreatitis occurs in the hospital and may involve IV fluids and pain medication.
4. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Though IBS is much less severe than the rest of these conditions, it can still cause persistent discomfort.
IBS is a gastrointestinal disease that affects the large intestine. IBS can cause pain in the lower abdomen.
Other symptoms of IBS include:
- Abdominal cramping
- Bloating and gas
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
Treatment for IBS varies depending on the severity and frequency of your symptoms. Treatment options include medication to relax muscles in the digestive tract or medication to help ease constipation and diarrhea.
5. Bowel obstruction
This condition occurs when something in the body, like fibrous tissue, blocks the intestines, keeping food and liquid from moving through the digestive system. Bowel obstruction typically occurs in people with scar tissue from previous abdominal surgeries, Singh says. It can cause severe pain in the lower abdomen.
Symptoms of bowel obstruction include:
- Severe pain in the lower abdomen
- Nausea and vomiting
- Swelling of the abdomen
- Inability to have a bowel movement or pass gas
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
Treatment for bowel obstruction typically involves hospitalization and the placement of an IV to give you fluids. Treatment may also include the placement of a tube through your nose and into your stomach to drain out air and fluid and reduce abdominal swelling.
6. Peptic Ulcer Disease
This condition is caused by the development of ulcers or open sores on the inside of the stomach and the first part of the small intestine.
Symptoms include:
- Stomach pain that worsens when eating
- Nausea and vomiting
- Bloating
- Gas
- Heartburn
- Weight loss
Treatment usually requires the use of acid suppressant medications, like proton pump inhibitors or H2 blockers, Merla says. These mediations reduce acid which allows the ulcers to heal.
7. Diverticulitis
This condition occurs when small, bulging pouches on the walls of the intestines, known as diverticula, become inflamed. This inflammation can result in bowel obstruction which can cause abdominal pain and constipation.
Other symptoms of diverticulitis include:
- Pain and tenderness in the lower left side of the abdomen
- Fever
- Chills
- Nausea and vomiting
- Rectal bleeding
Treatment for diverticulitis depends on the severity of your condition but may include oral antibiotics and a low-fiber diet. More severe cases may require hospitalization and surgery.
Insider's takeway
Stomach pain is a common symptom of many types of short-lived illnesses, like viral gastroenteritis, or the stomach flu. In most cases, the symptoms affiliated with these illnesses, like stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting, resolve in one to two days.
But if your stomach pain persists for several days, becomes worse after eating, and is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, or fever, the pain might be a sign of a more serious health condition that requires treatment,
Serious health conditions that may involve stomach pain include appendicitis, pancreatitis, and peptic ulcer disease.