Localized abdominal pain
Localized
pain is confined to or is most intense in one section of the abdomen.
Localized pain may indicate a more serious problem if:
- The pain comes on suddenly and increases in severity. Sudden severe pain may be caused by a problem with an underlying organ
- Other symptoms develop, such as nausea and vomiting or fever, after the abdominal pain started. It is common to have cramping abdominal pain immediately before vomiting or having diarrhea. However, a more serious problem may be present when nausea and vomiting start after the onset of abdominal pain.
- Generalized abdominal pain becomes localized pain. This may mean there is an infection in a specific organ, such as appendicitis or diverticulitis.
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS | Last Updated: February 15, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine Jerome B. Simon, MD, FRCPC, FACP - Gastroenterology | |
 | ||
| |