What could be causing stomach pain with fever but no diarrhea?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Stomach pain with fever but no diarrhea often points to an infection outside the intestines, such as the appendix, gallbladder, kidneys, or urinary tract. That said, diarrhea can be absent in the early stages of an intestinal infection, so bowel-related causes shouldn't be ruled out. Other possible causes include pelvic inflammatory disease, pneumonia, or a stomach ulcer.

Because fever combined with abdominal pain can signal conditions ranging from mild to serious, it's important not to guess. A free, instant, online symptom check can help you identify likely causes based on your specific symptoms and guide you on whether to rest at home, see a doctor soon, or seek urgent care—saving you time, worry, and unnecessary risk.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/15/2026

Quick answers

Frequently Asked Questions

4 answers

The most common questions people ask when stomach pain comes with a fever but no diarrhea

Concerned about your symptoms?

Start a symptom check

Explanation

Abdominal pain associated with fever but not diarrhea can be due to several different underlying causes. Diarrhea is usually a symptom that indicates inflammation of the intestines. So, when fever accompanies abdominal pain but diarrhea is absent, this may indicate inflammation of specific organs rather than a widespread intestinal infection. But, even still, a stomach bug (gastroenteritis) can also cause abdominal pain and fever without vomiting or diarrhea in early phases.

Inflammation and infection of the appendix (appendicitis), gallbladder (cholecystitis), pancreas (pancreatitis), liver (hepatitis), or bladder (cystitis) can all cause abdominal pain and fever.

The exact location of your pain and other symptoms may help identify the cause of your symptoms. Take our free symptom checker to understand what might be causing your discomfort, and if symptoms are severe or do not go away, you should discuss with your healthcare provider.

(References)

Keenan CR, Dhaliwal G, Henderson MC, Bowen JL. A 43-year-old woman with abdominal pain and fever. J Gen Intern Med. 2010 Aug;25(8):874-7. doi: 10.1007/s11606-010-1372-3. PMID: 20440575; PMCID: PMC2896582.
Jung YS. A Patient With Abdominal Pain and Fever. Intest Res. 2015 Jul;13(3):291-3. doi: 10.5217/ir.2015.13.3.291. Epub 2015 Jun 9. PMID: 26131006; PMCID: PMC4479746.
Sreh A, Rajaiah N, Saim M. Recurring Lower Abdominal Pain and Fever as Initial Presentation of Adult Onset Still's Disease in the Absence of Arthralgia and Other System Involvement. Eur J Case Rep Intern Med. 2017 May 9;4(6):000619. doi: 10.12890/2017_000619. PMID: 30755951; PMCID: PMC6346792.

Tell your friends about us.

We would love to help them too.

For First Time Users

What is Ubie’s Doctor’s Note?

We provide a database of explanations from real doctors on a range of medical topics. Get started by exploring our library of questions and topics you want to learn more about.

Was this page helpful?

Purpose and positioning of servicesUbie Doctor's Note is a service for informational purposes. The provision of information by physicians, medical professionals, etc. is not a medical treatment. If medical treatment is required, please consult your doctor or medical institution. We strive to provide reliable and accurate information, but we do not guarantee the completeness of the content. If you find any errors in the information, please contact us.