Crampy pain may be due to gas, indigestion, inflammation or infection, or, in women, from menstrual cramps or endometriosis. Severe pain that comes in waves may be caused by kidney stones. Trauma to the body wall, hernias, and shingles can also cause lower abdominal pain.

Stomach pain after eating can also be attributed to gallstones, eating spicy foods, a stomach flu, lactose intolerance, food poisoning, appendicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, Crohn’s disease, and peptic ulcers. Stomach pain after eating may also be the result of a blocked blood vessel.

Pain in the upper abdomen can often be attributed to temporary problems such as indigestion or gas. Persistent or severe upper abdominal pain may be related to other digestive tract conditions or to conditions of the body wall, blood vessels, kidneys, heart, or lungs.

Infection by bacteria or a parasite, heartburn, irritable bowel disease, or inflammatory bowel disease also can cause it. Something you eat. Some kids get belly pain because they ate too much of something, a food that was too spicy or greasy, or food that sat around in the fridge for too long and went bad.

Parents often worry that a kidney infection or appendicitis is responsible for the pain. Although serious disorders can cause abdominal pain, stomachaches in kids are usually due to something less worrisome, such as food issues, constipation or stress, especially at the start of the school year.

Share on Pinterest Nighttime stomach pain may be caused by eating close to bedtime, acid reflux, or GERD. Digestive problems are considered the most common cause of stomach pain at night.

Start out on your left side at night to prevent heartburn and allow gravity to move waste through your colon.

In children, abdominal pain may be related to injury to the abdomen or an illness, such as an upset stomach, an ear infection, a urinary tract infection, or strep throat. Abdominal symptoms can also occur from an infection passed on by animals or while traveling to a foreign country.

Berries and citrus fruits, such as oranges and grapefruit, contain less fructose, making them easier to tolerate and less likely to cause gas. Bananas are another low-fructose fruit that are fiber-rich and contain inulin, a substance that stimulates the growth of good bacteria in the gut.