Abdominal pain is pain that occurs between the chest and pelvic regions.

Abdominal pain can be crampy, achy, dull, intermittent or sharp. Its also
called a stomachache.
Inflammation or diseases that affect the organs in the abdomen can
cause abdominal pain. Major organs located in the abdomen include:

Intestines (small and large)

kidneys

appendix (a part of the large intestine)

spleen

stomach

gallbladder

liver

pancreas

Viral, bacterial, or parasitic infections that affect the stomach and

intestines may also cause significant abdominal pain.

What causes abdominal pain?

Abdominal pain can be caused by many conditions. However, the main
causes are infection, abnormal growths, inflammation, obstruction
(blockage), and intestinal disorders.
Infections in the throat, intestines, and blood can cause bacteria to enter
your digestive tract, resulting in abdominal pain. These infections may
also cause changes in digestion, such as diarrhea or constipation.

Cramps associated with menstruation are also a potential source of

lower abdominal pain, but more commonly these are known to cause
pelvic pain.
Other common causes of abdominal pain include:

constipation

diarrhea

gastroenteritis (stomach flu)

acid reflux (when stomach contents leak backward into the

esophagus, causing heartburn and other symptoms)

vomiting

kidney infection

stress

Diseases that affect the digestive system can also cause chronic
abdominal pain. The most common are:

gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

gastroenteritis

irritable bowel syndrome or spastic colon (a disorder that causes

abdominal pain, cramping, and changes in bowel movements)

Crohns disease (an inflammatory bowel disease)

lactose intolerance (the inability to digest lactose, the sugar

found in milk and milk products)

Causes of severe abdominal pain include:

organ rupture or near-rupture (such as a burst appendix, or

appendicitis)

gallbladder stones (known as gallstones)

kidney stones

kidney infection

Types of abdominal pain

Abdominal pain can be described as localized, cramp-like, or colicky.
Localized pain is limited to one area of the abdomen. This type of
pain is often caused by problems in a particular organ. The most
common cause of localized pain is stomach ulcers (open sores on the
inner lining of the stomach).
Cramp-like pain may be associated with diarrhea, constipation,
bloating, or flatulence. In women, it can be associated with menstruation,
miscarriage, or complications in the female reproductive organs. This
pain comes and goes, and may completely subside on its own without
treatment.
Colicky pain is a symptom of more severe conditions, such as
gallstones or kidney stones. This pain occurs suddenly and may feel like
a severe muscle spasm.

Location of pain within the abdomen

The location of the pain within the abdomen may be a clue as to its
cause.
Pain that is generalized throughout the abdomen (not in one specific
area) may indicate:

appendicitis (inflammation of the appendix)

Crohns disease

traumatic injury

irritable bowel syndrome

urinary tract infection

the flu

Pain that is focused in the lower abdomen may indicate:

appendicitis

intestinal obstruction

ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy that occurs outside the womb)

In women, pain in the reproductive organs of the lower abdomen can be

caused by:

severe menstrual pain (called dysmenorrhea)

ovarian cysts

miscarriage

fibroids

endometriosis

pelvic inflammatory disease

ectopic pregnancy

Upper abdominal pain may be caused by:

gallstones

heart attack

hepatitis (liver inflammation)

pneumonia

Pain in the center of the abdomen might be from:

appendicitis

gastroenteritis

injury

uremia (buildup of waste products in your blood)

Lower left abdominal pain may be caused by:

Crohns disease

cancer

kidney infection

ovarian cysts

appendicitis

Upper left abdominal pain is sometimes caused by:

enlarged spleen

fecal impaction (hardened stool that cant be eliminated)

injury

kidney infection

heart attack

cancer