When should I worry about stomach pain?

Seek care for severe or sudden pain, pain with fever, vomiting blood, black tarry stools, a rigid abdomen, pain radiating to the back or shoulder, inability to pass stool or gas, or pain in pregnancy. Persistent pain over two weeks also needs assessment.

Sudden severe pain, a board-like rigid abdomen, pain with fever and vomiting, or pain that makes movement unbearable suggests a surgical emergency.

Right lower abdominal pain migrating from around the navel suggests appendicitis. Severe upper abdominal pain radiating to the back suggests pancreatitis or a gallstone problem.