What is it?

Everyone gets tummy pains now and then – mostly it’s due to constipation or something you have eaten.  Sometimes it can be more severe – especially if you also have vomiting, diarrhoea or a fever.  Stomach pains can come from anywhere in the abdomen. Pains from the actual stomach are not common in young people.

How Can You Get It?

Food that doesn’t agree with you is the most common cause of tummy pains.  Luckily, this only lasts a few hours.  You can also get tummy pains with any virus – such as head colds, measles, chickenpox etc.  Sometimes, it can be more serious.

What Causes Stomach Pains?

·        Food poisoning gives you abdominal pains, vomiting and diarrhoea as well as fever. It comes from toxins or bugs in food or from eating reheated food.  The pain is usually all over the abdomen and is pretty constant. Luckily, it only lasts about twenty-four hours.

·        Gastroenteritis is an infection of your intestines which causes abdominal pain, diarrhoea and sometimes vomiting.  The pain is usually a dull ache.  Often, other people you know catch it at the same time.  It usually lasts four to five days.

·        Constipation:  The pain of constipation is due to your intestines trying to force faeces (stools or poo) out when the lower intestine (rectum) is blocked up.

·        Appendicitis is a really severe pain in the lower right hand side of the abdomen that usually needs an urgent operation to remove the inflamed appendix (appendicectomy or appendectomy).  If you’ve got it, the pain is severe, constant and it hurts to move around.  The abdomen is also extremely sore to touch – especially the lower right hand side.  Often you also feel very sick and have a high fever.  Don’t wait around – see a doctor immediately.

How Do You Treat It?

For most mild stomach aches, just resting and avoiding eating for a few hours usually helps.  Take paracetamol (acetaminophen) if the pain is fairly severe.

If you have vomiting and diarrhoea with it, ensure you have plenty of fluids, and avoid dairy products and rich foods.  Antibiotics rarely help gastroenteritis or food poisoning – and can make things worse by disturbing the good gut bugs.  If you think the problem is constipation, taking stool softeners can help right away.

When Should I See A Doctor?

· if the pain is mild but doesn’t settle overnight;

· if the pain is very severe and you think it might be appendicitis;

· if you also have vomiting and diarrhoea.