Fact Checked
Overview of abdominal pain
- Abdominal pain, often known as belly, tummy or stomach ache, normally refers to spasms or a dull ache in the abdomen.
- It’s usually temporary and caused by a minor stomach infection.
- Stomach cramps are often due to inflammation and wind that is trapped. This is a very common issue that can be painful, but it can be dealt with quickly; your chemist can recommend some over-the-counter medication to release the wind.
- If your abdominal spasms have recently started and you also have diarrhoea, then is may be a sign of gastroenteritis. This indicates you have a virus-related or bacterial infection of the abdomen and bowel which your immune system will normally eliminate.
- Abdominal cramps and diarrhoea that make you feel very ill (for example, causing tremors or a fever) could be because of a severe infection, such as food poisoning.
You should consider speaking your doctor when the pain is:
- Serious and your condition is getting worse;
- Connected to loss of weight;
- Connected to loss of blood from the bowel;
- Swallowing problems; and
- Associated with constant vomiting.
If you have a sudden, sharp pain in a specific part of your stomach, seek medical support right away. It could be an indication of a serious infection, such as appendicitis, that will definitely get worse without treatment.
Some prescriptions, such as anti-inflammatory drugs can cause stomach pain as a side effect. If you think this is the case, then speak to a chemist or your doctor to assess your medications.
Stomach pain in kids
Abdominal (tummy) pain can be caused by a number of things and can range from minor discomfort to a strong ache. Common causes of abdominal pain in kids consist of:
- A wound or strained muscle caused by a direct pressure or a sport-related injury.
- Menstrual discomfort in females who have started their periods.
- Worries, anticipation or fear.
- Wind in the abdominal region.
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