Abdominal pain
Abdominal pain has many causes, from indigestion and constipation to appendicitis and gallstones. Sudden severe pain, pain with fever, vomiting, rigid abdomen, blood in vomit or stool, or pain with fainting is a medical emergency. Persistent pain over a few days deserves a GP assessment.
Key information
- Symptom
- Abdominal pain
- Category
- Digestive system
- Common possible causes
- Indigestion and acid reflux, Constipation, Gastroenteritis, Irritable bowel syndrome
- Tests that may be considered
- Full blood count, CRP, Urea and electrolytes, Liver function
- Clinic assessment
- Available same day
- Home doctor visit
- Available across Dubai
- Home blood test
- Available across Dubai
- Date reviewed
- 2026-07-01
What this symptom means
Abdominal pain is any discomfort between the chest and pelvis.
Common possible causes
- · Indigestion and acid reflux
- · Constipation
- · Gastroenteritis
- · Irritable bowel syndrome
- · Urinary tract infection
- · Menstrual pain
- · Ovulation pain (mittelschmerz)
Less common possible causes
- · Gallstones
- · Kidney stones
- · Peptic ulcer
- · Diverticulitis
- · Endometriosis
- · Ovarian cyst
Serious causes that must not be missed
- · Appendicitis
- · Bowel obstruction or perforation
- · Ectopic pregnancy
- · Pancreatitis
- · Aortic aneurysm
- · Ischaemic bowel
- · Sudden severe pain
- · Rigid, board-like abdomen
- · Fever with severe pain
- · Vomiting blood or coffee-ground material
- · Black tarry or bloody stool
- · Fainting or shock
- · Severe pain in pregnancy
- · Testicular or one-sided lower abdominal pain in men
Call 998 (UAE ambulance) or attend the nearest emergency department for any of the above.
When a same-day GP is appropriate
- · New severe pain
- · Pain with fever or vomiting
- · Pain with urinary symptoms
- · Pain with abnormal vaginal bleeding
When a routine GP appointment is fine
- · Recurrent mild pain
- · Suspected IBS or reflux
Questions a doctor may ask
- · Where exactly is the pain?
- · How did it start and how severe?
- · Any fever, vomiting, diarrhoea or urinary symptoms?
- · Any relation to food, bowels or periods?
- · Any chance of pregnancy?
- · Any bleeding — vomit, stool, vaginal?
History factors that may matter
- · Pregnancy
- · Gallstones or previous surgery
- · Kidney stones
- · Endometriosis
Medicines that may contribute
- · NSAIDs (peptic ulcer)
- · Steroids
- · Iron supplements
Never stop a prescribed medication without discussing it with a clinician.
What may happen during the examination
- · Vital signs including temperature
- · Full abdominal examination
- · Rectal or pelvic examination where indicated
Tests that may be considered
Blood tests
- · Full blood count
- · CRP
- · Urea and electrolytes
- · Liver function
- · Amylase / lipase
- · Pregnancy test
Urine tests
- · Dipstick and culture
Other tests
- · Abdominal or pelvic ultrasound
- · CT abdomen for acute severe pain (hospital)
- · ECG for upper abdominal pain to exclude cardiac cause
When a specialist referral may be considered
- · Surgery for suspected appendicitis, gallstones or obstruction
- · Gynaecology for suspected ectopic or ovarian pathology
- · Gastroenterology for chronic or unexplained pain
Possible treatment approaches
- · Treatment is cause-specific
- · Simple analgesia (avoid NSAIDs if peptic ulcer suspected)
- · Antibiotics for confirmed infection
- · Surgery for acute surgical causes
Safe self-care
- · Rest and hydration
- · Heat pad for menstrual or muscular pain
- · Bland diet for indigestion
Best avoided
- · Strong opioids without medical assessment
- · Ignoring sudden severe pain
- · Assuming a positive pregnancy test with pain is a normal early pregnancy without checking for ectopic
How Aafiyah can help
- · Same-day GP assessment in clinic or at home
- · Blood, urine and pregnancy testing
- · Ultrasound referral where indicated
- · Onward surgical or gynaecology referral where needed
Related tests
Related conditions
Related symptoms
Frequently asked questions
When is abdominal pain an emergency?+
Emergency features include sudden severe pain, rigid abdomen, high fever, blood in vomit or stool, fainting, or pain in pregnancy. Attend A&E immediately.
What tests are done for abdominal pain?+
Assessment typically includes blood tests, urine tests, pregnancy test where relevant, and often abdominal ultrasound. More severe pain may require CT scanning in hospital.
Can indigestion cause severe pain?+
Yes — but severe upper abdominal pain should always be assessed to exclude cardiac, gallbladder or pancreatic causes.
Medical references
- · NICE CKS — Abdominal pain — cks.nice.org.uk
- · NHS — Stomach ache — nhs.uk
Medically reviewed by: Dr Shahbaz Afzal — British-trained Family Medicine Consultant, DHA-licensed
Written: 2026-07-01 · Reviewed: 2026-07-01 · Next review: 2027-01-01
This page provides general medical information for people in Dubai and the UAE. It does not replace personal medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified clinician about any medical concern.
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"Called at 8am with a fever, had a British-trained doctor at my door by 11. He sat with me for 45 minutes — not the 5 minutes I'm used to. Prescription delivered same day. Felt like having a proper GP again."
"We finally have one doctor who knows all of us. The kids actually like going. Follow-up calls happen without us chasing. Worth every dirham."
"The 40+ marker report came back with a real conversation, not a PDF dumped in my inbox. Caught a vitamin deficiency I'd been ignoring for years."
"After surgery I dreaded going back to a hospital for dressings. Their nurse came every other day, the doctor checked in by WhatsApp. Healed faster than I expected."
"Fell ill on day two of our trip. Doctor in the suite within 90 minutes, full assessment, prescription to the hotel pharmacy. Genuinely NHS-standard care in Dubai."
"My father refuses to leave the house. Aafiyah's team comes monthly, manages his medication, and treats him with such dignity. It changed everything for our family."
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