Which stomach pain should not wait until morning?
Pain that is severe, constant, worsening, or localised to one area — particularly the lower right — needs assessment tonight. So does pain with a rigid abdomen, a fever, repeated vomiting without diarrhoea, or blood in vomit or stool.
Life-threatening symptoms: call 998 for an ambulance
In the UAE, 998 is the ambulance number, 999 is police and 997 is civil defence. Do not wait for a WhatsApp reply, a callback or a home-visit window when someone may be having a heart attack or stroke, cannot breathe, is unresponsive, is bleeding heavily or is deteriorating quickly.
- Severe pain that stops normal activity or prevents sleep
- Pain that settles in one spot, especially the lower right side
- A hard, rigid or very tender abdomen
- Vomiting blood, or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
- Black tarry stools, or fresh blood in stool
- Pain with a fever and repeated vomiting but no diarrhoea
- Severe pain in pregnancy, or in anyone who has had recent abdominal surgery
How do you recognise dehydration overnight?
Look for reduced urine, a dry mouth, sunken eyes, unusual drowsiness or dizziness on standing. In young children, fewer wet nappies and lethargy are the most useful early signs, and they appear faster than in adults.
Rehydration works better in small, frequent amounts than in large drinks that trigger further vomiting. Offer a few sips every few minutes rather than a full glass, and continue even if some is brought back up.
Oral rehydration is the priority
Replacing fluid and salts matters more overnight than stopping the diarrhoea itself. Anti-diarrhoeal medicines are not appropriate for everyone and should not be started on your own, particularly for a child.
Which route fits a stomach upset at night?
A home visit can suit assessment, anti-sickness treatment where appropriate, and advice. A clinic or hospital is needed when pain suggests a surgical cause, when dehydration is significant, or when blood tests or imaging would change the decision.
Do not take painkillers to mask abdominal pain
Strong painkillers can hide the pattern a clinician needs to see. Ask before taking anything beyond what is already prescribed for that person.
Common questions
How long is too long to keep vomiting?
Repeated vomiting with no fluid kept down for several hours, or any vomiting with signs of dehydration or severe pain, should be assessed rather than waited out.
Can I eat normally after vomiting stops?
Return to food gradually once fluids are staying down. There is no need to fast for long periods, and children in particular should resume normal eating sooner rather than later.
Is food poisoning treated with antibiotics?
Usually not. Most cases are viral or resolve without antibiotics, and taking them unnecessarily contributes to antibiotic resistance. A clinician decides whether testing or treatment is needed.
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