Key takeaways
- Abdominal pain and loss of appetite can stem from various causes, including gastrointestinal problems, infections, medication side effects, and even stress or anxiety.
- While many cases of abdominal pain and appetite loss are mild and resolve on their own, it’s important to seek medical attention if the pain worsens, persists, or is accompanied by other symptoms.
- You can alleviate discomfort by staying hydrated, eating small, bland meals, and applying heat to ease the pain.
Abdominal pain can be sharp, dull, or burning. It can also cause many additional effects, including loss of appetite. Severe pain can sometimes make you feel too sick to eat.
Below are some potential causes of these two symptoms, tips on how to alleviate pain and lack of appetite at home, and when to seek medical help.
There are many potential causes of abdominal pain and loss of appetite, including:
Gastrointestinal causes
Your abdomen houses many organs, including your stomach, intestines, kidneys, liver, pancreas, spleen, gallbladder, and appendix. Abdominal pain may be related to problems with one or more of these organs, such as:
- indigestion
- trapped gas
- constipation
- viral gastroenteritis, also known as the stomach flu
- acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease
- irritable bowel syndrome
- Crohn’s disease, a condition that causes intestinal inflammation
- ulcerative colitis
- gastritis, or irritation of your stomach lining
- peptic ulcers
- celiac disease
- bile duct obstruction
- gallstones
Infections and inflammatory causes
Infectious and inflammation-related causes include:
- food poisoning
- bacterial gastroenteritis
- appendicitis
- E. coli infection
- peritonitis
- yellow fever
- typhus
- tuberculosis
- brucellosis
- leishmaniasis
- hepatitis
- West Nile virus infection
- botulism
- chlamydia
- pelvic inflammatory disease
- chronic pancreatitis
- urethritis
- chickenpox
- infectious mononucleosis
- hookworm infections
- giardiasis
- acute pancreatitis
Medication causes
Taking certain medications or undergoing certain treatments can also lead to abdominal pain and appetite loss. Examples include:
- chemotherapy drugs
- antibiotics
- codeine
- morphine
Talk with your doctor if you suspect that a medication or treatment that you’re using is irritating your stomach or affecting your appetite.
Using recreational or illegal drugs, such as alcohol, amphetamines, cocaine, or heroin, can also cause these symptoms.
Other causes
Here is a list of other causes for abdominal pain and loss of appetite:
- premenstrual syndrome
- pregnancy, particularly in your first trimester
- hypothyroidism or underactive thyroid
- drug allergy
- chronic kidney disease or kidney failure
- chronic liver disease or liver failure
- acetaminophen overdose
- diabetic ketoacidosis
- hyperparathyroidism
- Wilms’ tumor
- dissection of the aorta
- chemical burns
- cirrhosis
- thalassemia
- leukemia
- torsion of testes
- pancreatic cancer
- underactive pituitary gland
- Addison’s disease
- stomach cancer
- alcohol use disorder
- ectopic pregnancy
- ovarian cancer
Sometimes abdominal pain and loss of appetite have a psychological component, too. For example, stress, anxiety, grief, or depression can potentially cause stomach pain or appetite loss.
If doctors can find no cause of the pain and it lasts for 3 months or more, they may diagnose you with chronic abdominal pain.
According to the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS), most cases of abdominal pain are not serious. They often improve on their own within a few days.
Make an appointment with your doctor if you experience symptoms that:
- do not get better
- go away but then come back
- get progressively worse
- occur with unexplained weight loss
- occur during pregnancy
Seek immediate medical help if you experience the following symptoms along with abdominal pain and loss of appetite:
- sudden or severe pain
- abdominal swelling
- tenderness in the abdomen
- fever
- blood in the stool, urine, or vomit
- frequent or severe vomiting
- an inability to urinate or have a bowel movement
- yellow skin or eyes
- signs of shock, such as confusion, a rapid heart rate, or loss of consciousness
If you have diabetes, you should get immediate medical attention if you experience vomiting.
Always seek medical attention if you’re concerned you may be experiencing a medical emergency.
The treatment for these symptoms will depend on the underlying cause. In some cases, such as food poisoning, symptoms may improve on their own within a few days. If they don’t, you may need to visit a doctor for a diagnosis.
Your doctor may ask questions about:
- when the symptoms began
- where the pain is
- how severe the pain is
- what type of pain it is
- whether anything makes the pain better or worse
They may also ask if you’ve taken a new medication, consumed spoiled food, been around anyone with similar symptoms, or recently traveled to another country. In some cases, your doctor may also order blood, urine, stool, or imaging tests.
Your doctor’s recommended treatment plan will depend on the results of their investigation, but may include:
- antibiotics for an infection
- anti-inflammatory medications for inflammation
- drugs to help manage a chronic condition
- diet or lifestyle changes
- medication adjustments
For mild complaints, such as trapped gas or constipation, a pharmacist may be able to provide over-the-counter treatments.
Ask them for more information about your specific diagnosis, treatment options, and outlook. If you suspect that a medication is causing your symptoms, don’t stop taking it until you talk with your doctor first.
In addition to following your doctor’s recommended treatment plan, some home care strategies may help.
For example, staying hydrated is important. It may help to take sips of water regularly throughout the day from a large glass or bottle.
Eating small, frequent meals with bland ingredients may be less likely to upset your stomach. Some examples of these ingredients include:
- applesauce
- plain oatmeal
- plain toast
- plain rice
- crackers
- clear soup
- broth
For pain relief, applying warm compresses, heat packs, or hot water bottles to the abdomen may be helpful.
If your symptoms are caused by a viral infection, such as the stomach flu, drink plenty of clear fluids and rest. Electrolyte or oral rehydration solutions may also help.
You can take steps to lower your risk of developing abdominal pain and loss of appetite from certain causes. For example, to reduce the risk of an infection, you can:
avoid eating undercooked or raw foods- wash your hands regularly, especially after using the bathroom or before eating
- clean and disinfect frequently-touched objects regularly, such as door handles, light switches, and devices
- avoid close contact with other sick people
- stay up-to-date with vaccinations
If you’re taking medications known to cause stomach upset, ask your doctor or pharmacist what you can do to reduce your symptoms. It may help to take your medication with food.
Abdominal pain and a loss of appetite can happen for many reasons, ranging from trapped gas or constipation to more serious conditions, such as appendicitis or cancer.
Most cases are not serious and improve without the need for medical treatment in a few days. OTC remedies may help with some causes.
However, if you are worried about the symptoms, may be pregnant, or have underlying conditions such as diabetes, it is best to get a doctor’s advice.