Although most causes of abdominal pain are related to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract and the gynaecological subsystem, one must be aware of abdominal pain from other causes. The subjective nature of pain and the fact that common symptoms may arise from a broad spectrum of diseases combine to make interpretation difficult. Time of onset of pain, its location, its referral, and whether a change in character occurs with various postures, needs to be highlighted. It is important to notice the site of pain at the onset from the site at the time of presentation. It may start as a vague discomfort around and just above the umbilicus and later a sharper pain in the lower right quadrant of the abdomen, with possible nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite, fever and pain on pressing the lower right abdomen.
Gallstones can cause upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, heartburn and back pain.
Pain usually occurs in the upper right side of the abdomen and radiates to upper right side of the back. It usually begins one to three hours after a meal and persists for several hours. It may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Chills, fever, frequent or difficult urination are common. Upper mid-abdominal pain, between umbilicus and the end of the breast bone is because of peptic ulcer.