Abdominal pain by location: interactive guide
Tap on the area where it hurts and understand what could be going on, its urgency level and what to do next.
The location of the pain is the first clue to orient the cause.
TL;DR (quick summary)
Most useful:
- • Location + type of pain + associated symptoms orient the cause.
- • Appendicitis, ovarian torsion or diverticulitis are acute emergencies, not month-long conditions.
- • In recurrent pain, functional disorders (IBS, CAPS) are the most frequent.
Red flags:
- • Rigid abdomen, very intense pain, bleeding, jaundice.
- • Persistent vomiting, high fever, fainting.
- • Inability to pass gas or stool with marked distension.
Abdominal pain by location is one of the most common gastroenterology consultations, and the location of the pain remains the clinical clue that helps most in orienting possible causes 1. This interactive guide combines the area, type of pain, duration, intensity and associated symptoms to give you a clear orientation, identify red flags and tell you what to do now. It does not replace a medical consultation: it is an educational tool.
Important notice. This tool is orientative and educational. It does not provide a diagnosis nor replace a medical evaluation. In the event of red flags (very intense pain, bleeding, high fever, fainting, pregnancy or associated chest pain), go to the emergency department.
Where does it hurt?
Tap on the area of the abdomen where you feel the pain. If you can't pinpoint it, choose "Diffuse pain".
What does the pain feel like?
You can select several options that describe it.
How long have you had the pain?
Choose one option.
How intense is it?
Estimate the pain intensity.
What other symptoms do you have?
Mark all that apply.
Red flags
Mark any of the following situations that apply to your case.
Common causes of abdominal pain by location
Dividing the abdomen into 9 regions is the classic clinical framework to orient the differential diagnosis 2. Below is a quick summary of the most typical causes by area — always remember this is orientative.
Epigastric pain (stomach area)
Most commonly functional dyspepsia, gastroesophageal reflux, gastritis or peptic ulcer. If it appears after fatty meals and radiates to the back, biliary or pancreatic disease should be considered 3. In older or diabetic patients, acute myocardial infarction can present as epigastric pain — chest pain, sweating or shortness of breath must always trigger emergency evaluation. Read more in our guide on stomach ulcer and Helicobacter pylori treatments.
Right iliac fossa (RLQ) pain
The most feared cause is acute appendicitis: pain that typically starts around the navel, localizes to the right lower quadrant within hours, and is accompanied by nausea, fever and progressive worsening. It is a surgical emergency. In women of reproductive age, ovarian torsion, ovarian cyst or ectopic pregnancy must also be considered 4.
Left iliac fossa (LLQ) pain
In adults — especially from the fourth or fifth decade — the first suspicion is acute diverticulitis, particularly with fever and bowel habit changes. In young women, gynecological pathology (torsion, cyst) must be ruled out. If you are over 60 and the pain is associated with bleeding, check our guide on ischemic colitis.
Recurrent or chronic pain
When the pain has been ongoing for months, the most common causes are functional disorders: irritable bowel syndrome (pain that improves or worsens with bowel movements) and centrally mediated abdominal pain syndrome (CAPS), recognized by Rome IV criteria 5. They are real, frequent and treatable, although organic causes must always be ruled out.
Reassuring message
Most abdominal pains are benign and self-limited. The key is recognizing red flags and giving your body the right time and steps. If you've had days of pain or you're unsure, a gastroenterology consultation can resolve a lot of noise in a single visit.
Targeted gastroenterology evaluation & advanced endoscopy.
Related reading
A personal touch
Abdominal pain is scary, especially when you've been dealing with it for days without knowing what to do. My job is to put the clues in order: your area, your type of pain, your history, and leave you with a clear plan of what steps actually make sense (and which don't). If this guide helped, I'll see you in clinic.
FAQ: quick questions about abdominal pain
What kind of abdominal pain needs an emergency department visit?
Very intense pain, rigid abdomen, high fever, persistent vomiting, blood in stool, black stools, jaundice, dizziness, fainting, pregnancy or associated chest pain are clear red flags 1.
Where does acute appendicitis hurt?
It usually starts as a diffuse pain around the navel and, within hours, localizes to the right iliac fossa, with nausea, fever and progressive worsening. It is a surgical emergency 4.
What if I've had recurrent abdominal pain for months?
In chronic cases functional disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome and CAPS predominate. Organic causes must always be ruled out by medical evaluation 5.
Is burning pain in the stomach area serious?
Most often it is dyspepsia, reflux or gastritis. If it persists, worsens or is associated with weight loss or bleeding, it should be evaluated with endoscopy 3.
Does this tool replace a medical consultation?
No. It is educational and orientative: it helps you understand possible causes and urgency level, but it does not diagnose nor replace specialist evaluation.
Scientific references
- Yew K, George M, Allred H. Acute Abdominal Pain in Adults: Evaluation and Diagnosis. American Family Physician (2023). PubMed: 37327156
- Allen S, Wallis C. Acute abdominal pain. InnovAiT (2023). DOI: 10.1177/17557380231210162
- Marsicano E, Vuong G, Prather C. Gastrointestinal causes of abdominal pain. Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America (2014). DOI: 10.1016/j.ogc.2014.06.002
- Guo H, Li X, Du Y, et al. Development and implementation of an etiology-based diagnostic framework for acute abdominal pain in emergency settings. Hereditas (2025). DOI: 10.1186/s41065-025-00507-3
- Drewes A, Olesen A, Farmer A, et al. Gastrointestinal pain. Nature Reviews Disease Primers (2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41572-019-0135-7
- Lukić S, Mijac D, Filipović B, et al. Chronic Abdominal Pain: Gastroenterologist Approach. Digestive Diseases (2021). DOI: 10.1159/000516977
- Viniol A, Keunecke C, Biroga T, et al. Studies of the symptom abdominal pain — a systematic review and meta-analysis. Family Practice (2014). DOI: 10.1093/fampra/cmu036
- Spiller R, Thompson G. Bowel Disorders. The American Journal of Gastroenterology (2010). DOI: 10.1038/ajg.2010.69
- Brenner D, Brandt L, Fenster M, et al. Rare, Overlooked, or Underappreciated Causes of Recurrent Abdominal Pain. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2022.09.022
- El-Sawaf Y, Alzayani S, Saeed N, et al. Epiploic appendagitis: An overlooked cause of acute abdominal pain. World Journal of Gastroenterology (2025). DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v31.i32.109897
- Alfvén G, Andersson E. Stress and recurrent abdominal pain. Acta Paediatrica (2023). DOI: 10.1111/apa.16946
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