When Should I Be Concerned about Upper Right Abdominal Pain?

Emergency Medicine, Holy Name Medical Center

Supervised by Tomas Diaz, MD

Seek medical attention for upper right abdominal pain if it becomes severe, worsens over time, or is accompanied by symptoms like fever, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), or difficulty breathing. These symptoms require urgent medical evaluation.

Explanation

Upper right abdominal pain commonly originates from the liver or gallbladder. While it may be mild and resolve on its own, you should be concerned if the pain becomes severe, persists, or intensifies rapidly. If you develop additional symptoms like fever, chills, vomiting, or yellowing of the skin and eyes (signs of liver or bile problems), seek immediate medical attention. Pay attention to your body's signals. If something feels wrong or the pain becomes unbearable, don't hesitate to act. Getting medical help promptly can lead to early diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

(References)

Rathgaber S, Rex DK. Right upper quadrant abdominal pain. Postgrad Med. 1993 Aug;94(2):153-161. doi: 10.1080/00325481.1993.11945700. PMID: 29206611.
Gago R, Shum LM, Vilá LM. Right upper quadrant abdominal pain as the initial presentation of polyarteritis nodosa. BMJ Case Rep. 2017 Feb 22;2017:bcr2016218019. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2016-218019. PMID: 28228431; PMCID: PMC5337690.
Yew KS, George MK, Allred HB. Acute Abdominal Pain in Adults: Evaluation and Diagnosis. Am Fam Physician. 2023 Jun;107(6):585-596. PMID: 37327158.

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