Stomach pain is a common symptom and usually occurs due to anxiety, stress or the use of some medications, such as antibiotics and laxatives, and is not always considered a serious problem.
However, when stomach pain does not improve over the days or is accompanied by other symptoms such as bloody stools, severe diarrhea, fever or shortness of breath, it may also indicate gastroenteritis, food allergies or inflammatory bowel disease, and it is important that the doctor be consulted to identify the cause.
If stomach pain is frequent or accompanied by other symptoms, it is important to consult a general practitioner or gastroenterologist so that an assessment can be carried out, the cause identified and the most appropriate treatment initiated, which may involve the use of medications such as antibiotics and antiemetics, for example.
Main causes
The main causes of belly pain are:
1. Intestinal infection
Intestinal infections are generally caused by viruses, protozoa or bacteria and can cause stomach pain that is usually accompanied by other symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and fever. See more symptoms and causes of intestinal infection.
What to do: In this case, the stomach pain usually improves in about 3 days without the need for specific treatment. However, it is important to drink plenty of fluids and eat easily digestible foods to avoid dehydration and promote recovery. Check out other measures to stop diarrhea faster.
If symptoms persist or worsen, it is important to consult a general practitioner or gastroenterologist, as the use of medications such as antibiotics and antiemetics may be necessary. Furthermore, the use of homemade serum or oral rehydration serum can also be recommended in case of intestinal infection. See how to prepare homemade serum.
2. Use of some medications
Laxatives and some medications, such as antibiotics, prokinetics, anti-inflammatories and metformin, for example, can speed up bowel movements or reduce fluid absorption, causing stomach pain, which is usually accompanied by diarrhea.
In this case, the pain usually occurs a few hours after taking the medications and is not accompanied by other symptoms.
What to do: When stomach pain is caused by the use of a medication, it is usually mild and tends to improve after a few days when you continue using the medication. However, if the stomach pain does not go away, it is important that the doctor is consulted so that the possibility of changing the dose, changing the medication or discontinuing its use can be assessed.
3. Food allergy or intolerance
Allergies to foods such as milk, eggs or peanuts and intolerance to lactose or gluten, for example, can cause stomach pain, diarrhea and increased gas production, interfering with the absorption of nutrients.
In these cases, symptoms usually appear after eating specific foods and, in cases of severe allergies, shortness of breath, itching of the body and swelling of the face may also occur. Find out about other causes of a swollen face and what to do.
What to do: If you suspect an allergy to specific foods or food intolerance, it is important to try to identify the triggering foods, because by avoiding their intake, stomach pain and other symptoms tend to improve.
Therefore, it is recommended to consult a general practitioner, allergist or immunologist so that an evaluation can be carried out and the need to carry out tests to identify the food responsible for the symptoms.
4. Stress and anxiety
Stress and anxiety increase the amount of adrenaline and cortisol in the blood, accelerating intestinal activity, in addition to reducing the ability to absorb food in the intestine, which can cause stomach pain and diarrhea.
What to do: Belly pain that occurs in cases of intense stress, fear or anxiety usually improves after the person calms down or after the stressful situation has been resolved.
5. Hepatitis
Inflammation of the liver caused by hepatitis can cause stomach pain that is usually accompanied by symptoms such as malaise, loss of appetite, vomiting, yellowing of the skin and eyes. Check out other symptoms of hepatitis.
What to do: The treatment of hepatitis depends on identifying its cause, and may be recommended by the general practitioner or hepatologist to improve eating habits, drink plenty of fluids or use medications to inhibit virus replication.
6. Appendicitis
Appendicitis can cause abdominal pain that initially spreads throughout the abdomen and after a day or two it changes location and becomes more intense in the lower part of the belly on the right. Typically, other symptoms such as fever, nausea and vomiting also occur. Understand better what appendicitis is and its symptoms.
What to do: In case of suspected appendicitis, it is recommended to go to an emergency room for an evaluation and tests such as ultrasound or computed tomography. When the diagnosis is confirmed, surgery to remove the appendix is indicated. Understand how appendicitis surgery is performed.
7. Inflammatory bowel disease
Inflammatory intestinal diseases, such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, for example, can cause stomach pain, as they promote intense inflammation of the intestine, which can present lesions and have difficulty performing its functions. Understand better what inflammatory bowel diseases are.
In addition to stomach pain, other symptoms such as frequent diarrhea, weight loss, anemia, bleeding and mucus production in the stool may also occur.
What to do: If inflammatory bowel disease is suspected, it is important to consult a general practitioner or gastroenterologist for an assessment and to initiate appropriate treatment, which generally involves the use of immunomodulatory medications and dietary changes.
8. Intestinal cancer
Bowel cancer can cause stomach pain by altering the intestinal rhythm or causing deformities in the bowel wall. In addition, other symptoms such as blood in the stool, frequent constipation or diarrhea may also be present. See what intestinal cancer is and its symptoms.
What to do: It is important to consult a general practitioner or gastroenterologist, who may recommend tests such as colonoscopy to confirm the diagnosis. When indicated, treatment may involve chemotherapy, radiotherapy and/or surgery.
