At what age does swelling on the upper left side of the stomach typically occur?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Swelling on the upper left side of the stomach can occur at any age, and the underlying cause varies widely. Possible reasons include gas or bloating, an enlarged spleen, hernia, pancreatitis, or issues involving the stomach, colon, or kidney. Because symptoms can point to many different conditions, it's important to see a doctor to identify the exact cause and receive proper treatment.

Not sure what's behind your symptoms? A free, instant symptom check can help you narrow down possible causes in just a few minutes. It's a smart first step to understand what may be going on and decide how urgently you need care—so you can walk into your doctor's appointment informed and ready with the right questions.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/15/2026

Quick answers

Frequently Asked Questions

4 answers

The most common questions people search after this page

Concerned about your symptoms?

Start a symptom check

Explanation

Swelling in the upper left side of the stomach can be due to different reasons. One possible cause is related to the spleen, which can become enlarged in conditions like infectious mononucleosis and happen at any age, but the exact age when it typically occurs is not specified in the provided references.

Another possible cause of swelling in this area is a condition called stomach volvulus, which is when the stomach twists. This condition can also occur at various ages, but the reference does not specify a typical age range. This is considered a medical emergency and needs immediate evaluation and treatment

Lastly, internal hernias can cause symptoms like swelling and might present with other symptoms such as vomiting. Like the other conditions, the age of occurrence can vary widely. This is considered a medical emergency and needs immediate evaluation and treatment

Since the causes of swelling can be different and serious, it's important to talk to a doctor to understand the specific reason and get the right treatment. You can start by using our free AI symptom checker to help identify what might be causing your symptoms before seeking medical care.

(References)

Lankisch PG. (1990). The spleen in inflammatory pancreatic disease. Gastroenterology, 2403954.
Altenwerth FJ. (1994). [Treatment of an intermittent stomach volvulus using .... Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift (1946), 7988366.
Joo YE, Kim HS, Choi SK, Rew JS, Kim HR, Cho CK, & Kim SJ. (2002). Internal hernia presenting as obstructive jaundice and .... Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology, 12229977.

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.