Abdominal Pain, Age 12 and Older

Home Treatment

Most of the time, abdominal pain improves with home treatment and you do not need a visit to a doctor. Specific home treatment for abdominal pain often depends on the symptoms you have along with the pain, such as diarrhea or nausea and vomiting.

If you have mild abdominal pain without other symptoms, try the following:

• Rest until you are feeling better.
• Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. You may find that taking small, frequent sips of a beverage is easier on your stomach than trying to drink a whole glass at once. Do not drink carbonated or caffeinated drinks, such as soda pop, tea, or coffee.
• Try eating several small meals instead of 2 or 3 large ones. Eat mild foods, such as rice, dry toast or crackers, bananas, and applesauce. Do not eat spicy foods, other fruits, alcohol, and drinks that have caffeine until 48 hours after all symptoms have gone away.
• Do not eat foods that are high in fat. Foods high in fat may increase your abdominal pain.
• Do not use aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines, such as ibuprofen and naproxen. These medicines may irritate your stomach and increase your pain.

Symptoms to Watch For During Home Treatment

Use the Check Your Symptoms section to evaluate your symptoms if one or more of the following symptoms occur during home treatment:

• Pain increases or localizes to one specific area of the abdomen.
• Pain does not improve in 24 to 48 hours.
• Other symptoms develop, such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, a fever, or a change in urination.
• Symptoms become more severe or frequent.

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Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: January 13, 2009
Medical Review:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
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