When to worry about abdominal pain with gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis inflames the stomach and bowel, often causing cramping, diarrhoea, nausea, and vomiting. Cramps may rise and ease as the bowel contracts. Constant pain, pain focused in one spot, or a firm swollen abdomen is a different pattern and may need assessment for another cause or a complication.

Sip water or an oral rehydration drink often, even if each sip is small. Rest and return to plain foods gradually when nausea settles. Wash hands carefully and avoid preparing food for others while you have diarrhoea. Monitor urination, alertness, vomiting, stool changes, temperature, and whether pain is easing.

Seek urgent care for severe or worsening pain, blood or black stool, repeated vomiting, very little urine, faintness, confusion, a high fever, or inability to keep fluids down. Contact a clinician when symptoms persist or you are becoming weaker. Children, older adults, pregnant people, and those with chronic illness may need advice sooner.

Ask how to replace fluids, whether you need examination or testing, and which medicines are safe. Describe when the illness began, the number of vomiting or diarrhoea episodes, recent contacts or travel, fever, blood, and the precise location of pain.