Customer question:
Abdominal pain and diarrhea - why does it hurt? Anonymous customer's question
Pharmacist's answer:
Stomach pain and diarrhea can have a variety of causes, including indigestion, a viral infection such as the stomach flu, or intestinal disease.
Frequent, constant, or severe abdominal pain and diarrhea may indicate an illness or serious health problem. Diarrhea that gradually worsens and is bloody can also be a symptom of a more severe problem.
Possible causes of stomach pain and diarrhea are:
- stomach flu
- food poisoning
- food allergies
- premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
- irritable bowel syndrome
- diverticulitis
- lactose intolerance or inability to digest lactose
- affected intestine
- intestinal obstruction
- colitis
- appendicitis
- parasites such as giardia, amoeba, or hookworm
- bacterial infection with Shigella or E. coli
- allergies to medicines
- celiac disease
- Crohn's disease
- cystic fibrosis
- stress and anxiety
- some forms of cancer
Two attributes to consider when preparing to see your doctor are the duration of your symptoms and their severity. If your diarrhea and abdominal symptoms last over a few days and are severe or acute and long-lasting, it's time to make an appointment.
Also, check for blood in the stool, confusion or severe fatigue, irritability, fast heart rate, and vision problems. Infants and those with weakened immune systems or older people should seek immediate medical attention.
Interesting reading: Abdominal pain in a child
