Most stomach aches are not anything serious and will go away after a few days.

Common causes of stomach ache

These are some common types of stomach ache and what may be causing them. But see a GP if you're unsure and worried.

Types of stomach ache and possible conditions:

• Type: Feeling bloated, farting a lot. Possible condition: Trapped wind (flatulence)
• Type: Feeling full and bloated after eating, heartburn, feeling sick. Possible condition: Indigestion
• Type: Cannot poo. Possible condition: Constipation
• Type: Watery Poo, feeling sick, vomiting. Possible condition: Stomach bug or food poisoning

A pharmacist can help with stomach ache

Speak to a pharmacist about:

• what might be causing your stomach ache
• treatments that might help
• medicines for constipation and indigestion

Find a pharmacy

See a GP if:

• a stomach ache gets much worse quickly
• stomach pain or bloating will not go away or keeps coming back
• you have stomach pain and problems with swallowing food
• you're losing weight without trying to
• you suddenly pee more often or less often
• peeing is suddenly painful
• you bleed from your bottom or vagina, or have abnormal discharge from your vagina
• you have diarrhoea that does not go away after a few days

Call 999 or go to A&E if:

• a stomach ache came on very suddenly or is severe
• it hurts when you touch your stomach
• you're vomiting blood or your vomit looks like ground coffee
• your poo is bloody or black and sticky and extremely smelly
• you cannot pee
• you cannot poo or fart
• you cannot breathe
• you have chest pain
• you have diabetes and you're vomiting
• someone has collapsed

What we mean by severe pain

Severe pain:

• always there and so bad it's hard to think or talk
• you cannot sleep
• it's very hard to move, get out of bed, go to the bathroom, wash or dress

Moderate pain:

• always there
• makes it hard to concentrate or sleep
• you can manage to get up, wash or dress

Mild pain:

• comes and goes
• is annoying but does not stop you doing daily activities

Other causes of stomach ache

Don't self-diagnose - see a GP if you're worried.

Type of stomach ache and possible condition

• Type: Pain and cramps when you have your period. Possible condition: Period pain
• Type: Sudden pain in the lower right-hand side. Possible condition: Appendicitis
• Type: Ongoing cramps, bloating, diarrhoea, constipation. Possible condition: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Type: Bad ongoing pain that can go down to your groin, nausea, pain when peeing. Possible condition: Kidney stones
• Type: Severe pain that lasts for hours in the centre of your tummy or just under the ribs on the right-hand side. Possible condition: Gallstones