A person with abdominal pain has discomfort in the abdomen. The location of the pain within the abdomen can be an important clue in determining the underlying cause. Pain located in one area of the abdomen is often more serious than pain in the entire abdomen.

Other important features of abdominal pain include:

• Pain severity
• Character: cramping, burning, sharp, etc.
• Timing: constant, intermittent, etc.
• Associated symptoms: fever, vomiting, etc.