Symptom Combination

Abdominal Pain and Vomiting: Causes, Conditions & When to See a Doctor

Abdominal pain with vomiting spans a broad spectrum from benign gastroenteritis to surgical emergencies: acute appendicitis, bowel obstruction, pancreatitis, mesenteric ischemia, and ruptured ectopic pregnancy. The character, location, and timing of pain combined with the nature of vomiting guide the diagnostic priority.

→ Abdominal Pain Overview → Vomiting Overview

Possible Causes of Abdominal Pain and Vomiting

Conditions that commonly cause both symptoms together

1Acute appendicitis with periumbilical pain migrating to RLQ + vomiting
2Acute pancreatitis with epigastric pain radiating to back + vomiting
3Small bowel obstruction with colicky pain + bilious vomiting
4Gastroenteritis (viral or bacterial) — most common, self-limiting
5Ruptured ectopic pregnancy in women of childbearing age

Emergency Red Flags

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of these

Rigid abdomen (guarding) with vomiting + pain — peritonitis

Bilious vomiting in a child (bowel obstruction or intussusception)

Constant worsening pain with vomiting unrelieved by analgesics

Haematemesis with abdominal pain (upper GI bleeding or perforation)

Female + lower abdominal pain + vomiting + missed period (ectopic pregnancy)

When to See a Doctor

Schedule a medical consultation if you notice these signs

Emergency surgical evaluation for peritonitis, obstruction, or ectopic suspicion

Pregnancy test in all women of childbearing age with abdominal pain + vomiting

Lipase/amylase for epigastric pain to exclude pancreatitis

IV fluid resuscitation for dehydration from persistent vomiting

Conditions That Cause Both Abdominal Pain and Vomiting

21 conditions are associated with this symptom combination

Gastritis is inflammation of the stomach lining, commonly caused by H. pylori infection, prolonged NSAID use, or excessive alcohol. It can be acute (sudden) or chronic (long-term) and may lead to peptic ulcers if untreated.

Peptic ulcers are open sores that develop on the inner lining of the stomach or the upper part of the small intestine. H. pylori infection and long-term NSAID use are the most common causes. They cause burning stomach pain, especially when the stomach is empty.

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, which can be acute (sudden) or chronic (long-term). Gallstones and heavy alcohol use are the most common causes. It causes severe upper abdominal pain that may radiate to the back, nausea, and vomiting.

Cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder, usually caused by gallstones blocking the bile duct. It causes severe pain in the upper right abdomen, nausea, vomiting, and fever. Acute cholecystitis often requires surgery.

Gallstones are hardened deposits of digestive fluid that form in the gallbladder. They can range from sand-grain size to golf-ball size. Many are asymptomatic, but when they block a duct they cause severe 'biliary colic' pain in the upper right abdomen.

Kidney stones are hard mineral deposits that form in the kidneys and can cause severe pain when passing through the urinary tract. The pain typically starts in the back or side and radiates to the lower abdomen. Increased fluid intake is key to prevention.

Stomach Cancer (Gastric Cancer)

Gastric cancer is more common in East Asia and is strongly associated with H. pylori infection, smoking, and salt-preserved foods. It often presents late with weight loss, early satiety, and abdominal pain.

Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix causing progressive right lower quadrant abdominal pain, nausea, fever, and rebound tenderness. Perforation risk increases with delayed treatment; surgical removal (appendectomy) is standard care.

Explore Individual Symptoms

In-depth pages for each symptom in this combination

Abdominal Pain — Full Overview Causes Treatment When to See a Doctor Related Questions

Vomiting — Full Overview Causes Treatment When to See a Doctor Related Questions

Medical Questions About Abdominal Pain and Vomiting

Evidence-based answers from medical experts

Early Signs of Gastritis How to Manage Gastritis Early Signs of Peptic Ulcer How to Manage Peptic Ulcer Early Signs of Pancreatitis How to Manage Pancreatitis Early Signs of Cholecystitis How to Manage Cholecystitis

Clinical Matches — Authority Pages

Condition-level differential and comparison resources for this combination

⚠ Dangerous — Rule Out First:

Differential analyses:

🔬Appendicitis: differential →🔬Intestinal Obstruction: differential →🔬Ovarian Torsion: differential →

Condition comparisons:

⇄Appendicitis vs Cholecystitis →⇄Gastritis vs Peptic Ulcer →

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