A person with upper abdominal pain has discomfort in the upper part of the abdomen.

Locations of upper abdominal pain include:

• Pain in the middle of the abdomen or epigastric area
• Right upper abdominal pain
• Left upper abdominal pain

The location of the pain can be an important clue in determining the underlying cause. Pain that is localized to one area of the abdomen is often more serious than pain that is perceived as coming from all over the abdomen.

Other important features of abdominal pain include:

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