Causes of long-term or recurring abdominal pain

Some of the possible causes of long-term or recurring abdominal pain include:

  • irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms of this common condition include stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhoeaand constipation; the pain is often relieved when you go to the toilet
  • inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) long-term conditions that involve inflammation of the gut, includingCrohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
  • aurinary tract infection that keeps returningyou'll usually experience a burning sensation when you wee
  • constipation
  • period pain
  • other stomach-related problems such as a stomach ulcer, heartburn and acid reflux,or inflammation of the stomach lining(gastritis)

Possible causes in children include:

  • constipation
  • aurinary tract infection that keeps returning
  • heartburn and acid reflux
  • recurrent episodes of abdominal pain with no identifiable cause (abdominal migraines)

Content supplied by the NHS Website

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018