Outpatient Services

Abdominal Pain: How Types & Locations Mean Different Diseases

Author Bowtie Team

Updated on 2025-07-28

Disclaimer: This article is translated with the assistance of AI.

Everyday tummy aches or gut discomfort often ease with a warm drink or a quick bathroom break. But if the pain lingers and intensifies, it might signal serious issues with your abdominal organs! Join Bowtie as we chat with Dr. Kwong Kin Hung from Ying Kin Medical, breaking down various pain types, their locations, and what illnesses they could indicate—plus tips on proper relief!

What Causes Stomach Pain?

The abdominal cavity houses various organs, including digestive ones (stomach, large and small intestines, liver, gallbladder, etc.), gynecological ones (uterus, ovaries, etc.), and urinary ones (bladder, ureters, etc.). When issues arise in these abdominal organs, they can trigger pain sensations. Since abdominal nerves aren’t as sensitive as those in the skin, pinpointing the exact source can be tricky sometimes. Common causes of abdominal pain include organ inflammation, infections, cancer, tumors, ischemia, and blockages.

Problems with different organs can lead to varying levels of pain in different spots, such as Appendicitis , Gallstones , cholecystitis, pancreatitis, intestinal obstruction, and other abdominal conditions, each with unique symptoms.

Types of Stomach Pain Sensations

Different conditions can cause various types and intensities of pain—some hit suddenly with sharp agony, others come and go like a nagging ache, and they can be intermittent or constant. Plus, each illness has its own set of symptoms, like nausea, vomiting, fever, or diarrhea.

Condition	Type or Sensation of Pain	Other Symptoms
Gastroenteritis	Colicky pain	Acid reflux, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, headache, belching, etc.
Gastric/Duodenal Ulcer	Dull pain, burning, or discomfort	Vomiting blood, bloody stools
Gallbladder Stones	Colicky pain, occurring 30 minutes to an hour after meals	Pain under the breastbone, severe right shoulder pain, nausea, vomiting
Cholecystitis	Starts as intermittent pain, becomes constant with noticeable tenderness or bloating	Fever, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite
Pancreatitis or Pancreatic Cancer	Persistent pain that gradually intensifies	Stomach and back pain, nausea, vomiting
Appendicitis	Pain starts in the upper middle abdomen or around the navel, shifts to the lower right abdomen; worsens with coughing or movement	Fever, diarrhea, vomiting
Irritable Bowel Syndrome	Colicky pain	Abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation
Cardiac Conditions, such as Myocardial Infarction , Diabetes , High Blood Pressure , etc.	Dull, stabbing, or vague pain	Shortness of breath, belching, nausea
Urinary System Conditions, such as Kidney Stones, Urethral or Bladder Stones	Stabbing and severe pain, intermittent, occurring every few minutes to half an hour	Blood in urine, painful urination, inner thigh pain
Gynecological Conditions	Lower abdominal pain	Irregular menstruation, chronic menstrual pain

Stomach Pain Locations and Diseases: 9-Grid Guide

Doctors assess issues based on pain location and intensity. Check out this handy 9-grid abdomen chart for reference:

Location	Possible Pain Sensations	Possible Diseases
Right Upper Abdomen	Back pain	Gallstones, cholecystitis, cholangitis, pneumonia, etc.
Right Flank	Intermittent pain, occurring every few minutes to half an hour, spreading from abdomen to lower body	Colitis, diverticulitis, kidney stones, nephritis, etc.
Right Lower Abdomen	Persistent pain in right lower abdomen	Appendicitis, ovarian torsion, ectopic pregnancy, etc.
Upper Abdomen	Intermittent gripping pain, cramping, back pain	Gastritis, gastric/duodenal ulcer, ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, gallstones, pancreatitis, heart disease, etc.
Central Abdomen	Intermittent gripping pain, cramping	Gastroenteritis, early appendicitis, ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, etc.
Lower Abdomen	Pain spreading from abdomen to lower body and inner thighs	Urinary stones, urethritis, uterine fibroids, menstrual cramps, etc.
Left Upper Abdomen	Intermittent gripping pain, cramping	Gastritis, gastric/duodenal ulcer, pancreatitis, etc.
Left Flank	Intermittent pain, occurring every few minutes to half an hour, spreading from abdomen to lower body	Colitis, diverticulitis, kidney stones, nephritis, etc.
Left Lower Abdomen	Persistent pain in left lower abdomen	Colitis, diverticulitis, ectopic pregnancy, etc.

Different diseases come with varying pain levels and symptoms—if you’re feeling off, see a doctor pronto for proper diagnosis.

Abdominal Pain Diagnosis Methods

Medical History Consultation

The doctor will first ask the patient some basic information, such as when the pain started, the form of onset, intensity, timing, and location, and arrange further examinations based on the results.

Blood Tests

Blood tests are not a common diagnostic method for abdominal pain, but they can check electrolytes and creatinine in the blood to help determine the condition.

Gastroscopy

Using gastroscopy to directly observe lesions in the stomach and take biopsy samples from the affected tissue to check the cause of abdominal pain. Before the examination, the doctor will inject a gastrointestinal relaxant, then administer an anesthetic to the patient’s throat, and finally insert the endoscope through the mouth into the upper digestive tract for observation.

Colonoscopy

Through colonoscopy , the doctor can observe intestinal lesions more closely, perform biopsies if needed, and remove polyps, allowing for a more effective assessment of the causes of abdominal pain.

Ways to Relieve Abdominal Pain

If the pain isn’t too severe, you can try these home remedies to ease it:

Drink some hot water
Eat smaller, more frequent meals
Consume a small amount of baking soda
Drink some lemon or lime juice
Eat bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast
Tea therapy: Ginger, peppermint, licorice, or chamomile tea
Avoid smoking or drinking alcohol

While painkillers can provide temporary relief, they’re not the best long-term solution. To avoid delaying diagnosis and treatment, which could worsen the condition, if home remedies don’t help, seek medical attention promptly and avoid taking painkillers indiscriminately.

Why Do Pregnant Women Get Abdominal Pain? What to Watch For?

Abdominal pain during pregnancy can stem from various causes. Common factors include:

Mild uterine contractions causing slight and temporary discomfort
Constipation in pregnant women
Uterine expansion stretching nearby ligaments, leading to dull lower abdominal pain
Strong fetal movements

If abdominal pain occurs, pregnant women can try resting appropriately and maintaining regular bowel movements. If the pain shifts from intermittent to regular contractions, or intensifies, it might signal labor—head to the hospital promptly for medical advice.

Why Do Babies Get Tummy Aches? How to Handle Them?

Baby abdominal pain could be due to colic or intussusception:

	Common Age	Causes
Colic	Under 4 months old	The baby’s intestinal walls are developing, prone to tangling from rapid peristalsis, causing cramping pain and bloating
Intussusception	3 months to 2 years old	Often occurs during vigorous activity or eating while playing, where one part of the intestine telescopes into another

For colic, symptoms usually ease after passing gas. If the condition persists and worsens, it could indicate a more serious pediatric issue like intestinal obstruction—contact a doctor quickly for a thorough check-up.

Common Questions About Abdominal Pain

If abdominal pain lasts only briefly, do I need to see a doctor?

If the pain lasts just a few seconds or minutes, you don’t need to rush to the hospital. However, if it’s persistent and accompanied by cold sweats, nausea, vomiting (including vomiting blood or coughing blood), black stools, bloating, chest pain, or arm pain—and meds don’t help—seek medical attention promptly for checks.

Is abdominal pain a long-term effect of COVID-19?

Studies show that 12.7% of COVID patients still have the virus in their gastrointestinal tract 4 months post-infection, which may cause abdominal pain.

Author

Bowtie Team

The Bowtie Life Insurance Company Limited is an authorized life insurance company and Hong Kong’s very first virtual insurer approved. Through the use of modern technology and medical expertise, Bowtie offers an agent-free, commission-free and more convenient online platform for customers to quote, apply and claim for Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme (VHIS) anytime anywhere. Bowtie is ranked first in the direct channel sales throughout 2021. Stay up to date at www.bowtie.com.hk