Abdominal pain is felt in many different ways including but not limited to burning, cramping, stabbing, throbbing, spasms, and sharp in the area below the ribs, above the pelvic bone, and around the flanks on each side.

Pain in this area can arise from skin and abdominal-wall muscles but abdominal pain generally describes pain that comes from organs within the abdomen including the stomach, large and small intestines, appendix, colon, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas. Sometimes pain that is felt in the abdomen is really coming from the lower lungs, the kidneys, and the uterus or ovaries and is called “referred” pain.

Abdominal pain is caused by inflammation, stretching or swelling of an organ, or by loss of the supply of blood to an organ. But abdominal pain can also occur without any of these causes, such as in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBS is not well understood, but it may be due to abnormal contractions of the intestinal muscles (spasm) or abnormally sensitive nerves within the intestines that cause pain.

Some abdominal pain is considered an emergency, such as appendicitis, or it may be a more chronic but serious condition such as diverticulitis or colitis. All abdominal pain may be serious and life threatening and needs to be evaluated by your doctor.

In children, note the following symptoms in order to describe the pain and symptoms accurately to your doctor:

• Length of time experiencing pain, particularly pain persisting for longer than 24 hours

• Location of pain and any pain outside the center of the abdomen

• The child's appearance, including pale skin, sweating, sleepiness, and listlessness

Alert!

Abdominal pain is often difficult to diagnose and often takes many office visits and tests, such as blood tests, radiographic studies, and endoscopic procedures, in order to determine the problem.

• Nausea and vomiting that persists for longer than 24 hours or vomit that appears red in color

• Diarrhea lasting longer than 72 hours or any blood in the stool

• Presence or absence of fever

• Groin pain (may indicate blood supply being cut off from a testicle twisting on itself)

• Urinary problems

• Any rash along with abdominal pain

After you have spoken to or been examined by your doctor, continue to monitor your symptoms or those of your child and make sure to report any changes or lack of improvement. Also be aware that depending on the age of a child, they may be reluctant to complain of symptoms.

First Aid for Abdominal Pain

Abdominal pain may be a sign of serious illness and can cause severe pain. You may need to describe your pain to your doctor. An easy way to think of this is that 0 is no pain and 10 is pain so severe you are crying and your face is distorted in a grimace.

Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale

Describe the pain as sharp or dull, burning or pressure like, jabbing and fleeting, steady and unrelenting or cramp-like. Be sure to note any fever, chills, sweats, rectal bleeding, loss of appetite, diarrhea, weight loss, constipation, nausea, or loss of energy. Treat minor abdominal pain with:

• Rest

• A heating pad or soaking in a tub of warm water

• OTC antacids and pain relievers (but avoid aspirin or ibuprofen, as these drugs can make some types of stomach pain and conditions worse)

• Plenty of fluids and a regular diet as tolerated

For persistent pain, fever, vomiting, vaginal bleeding, loss of consciousness, chest pain, or other serious symptoms, see your medical-care provider.