When should I go to A&E for abdominal pain?
We will now describe when should I go to A&E for abdominal pain?
Call 999 or go to A&E
If your abdominal pain is severe and especially is associated with:
- Trauma, such as an accident or injury
- Rapid onset
- Pressure or pain in your chest.
Seek medical attention – NHS111 is a good place to start
- Severe pain, lasting more than four hours
- Mild-moderate pain, lasting more than a week
- Fever
- Blood in your poo
- Persistent nausea and vomiting
- Weight loss
- Skin that appears yellow
- Severe tenderness when you touch your abdomen
- Swelling of the abdomen.
When not to seek medical help (at least initially)
- Mild abdominal pain
- When there is an obvious self-limiting cause, e.g. period pain or gastroenteritis (food poisoning).
How do you relieve abdominal pain?
The treatment for abdominal pain is very variable, and depends on the cause,. But there are some general things you can do at home for mild abdominal pain.
Sip water and clear liquids, and avoid solid foods until the pain is gone. If you have no pain but are vomiting, wait at least six hours before eating a small, bland meal.
Summary
We have described when should I go to A&E for abdominal pain? We hope you have found it helpful.
