Depending on the underlying virus, the stomach flu can cause symptoms that last for up to a few days at a time. Abdominal pain is a common symptom of stomach flu, but it’s unlikely to last beyond several days.

Gastroenteritis is the medical term for the stomach flu, which causes pain, nausea, and vomiting, as well as cramps and diarrhea in some cases.

Most cases of gastroenteritis are viral in nature, and its symptoms last between 1 and 3 days. The exact timeline for your symptoms can vary based on the type of virus you have, your age, and your overall health. For some people, this can equate to lingering stomach pain.

Most people with an acute case of the stomach flu recover on their own at home without medical intervention. It’s also possible that prolonged abdominal pain could be related to another medical condition.

Learn more about the different types of viruses that cause the stomach flu, including their characteristics and average symptom duration.

When you have a stomach virus, symptoms like abdominal pain may develop within 2 hours. Most people recover within a few days.

However, the exact amount of time you may experience abdominal pain and other symptoms of stomach flu can depend on the underlying virus. The most common of these include norovirus and rotavirus.

Gastroenteritis is associated with the following viruses:

  • Norovirus: As a highly contagious virus, norovirus is also the most common cause of stomach flu in adults. Symptoms usually last up to 72 hours and can include acute abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.
  • Rotavirus: This seasonal stomach virus can cause symptoms of vomiting and then 3 to 8 days of abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Fever is also possible with rotavirus.
  • Adenovirus: Mostly prevalent in children, this virus can cause both respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms. Adenovirus infection symptoms can last a few days, with more severe cases lasting up to 2 weeks.
  • Astrovirus: Also more common in children, astrovirus infections usually cause mild symptoms that last a few days.

As a general rule, any abdominal pain that lasts longer than 2 weeks is likely not associated with stomach flu. If you continue to experience pain after this time and you don’t have any other stomach flu-like symptoms, you may be experiencing a separate medical condition.

A few possibilities to consider are irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Both are associated with intestinal inflammation, although IBD is more chronic.

The most common symptoms of IBS include:

  • abdominal pain
  • diarrhea
  • constipation
  • abdominal bloating and distention, especially after eating

Abdominal pain is also considered the most common symptom of IBD. This includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Overall, some of the most common symptoms of a stomach flu include:

  • abdominal pain
  • stomach cramps
  • fever
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • diarrhea

If you lose a lot of fluids from vomiting and diarrhea, it’s possible to experience dehydration following a stomach flu. In general, once you have recovered from a stomach flu, you shouldn’t experience chronic pain or any other symptoms.

In most cases, the stomach flu is treatable at home. To alleviate symptoms and prevent complications, you can:

  • rest
  • drink plenty of fluids like water, sports drinks, and fruit juices
  • eat small amounts of soup, as well as bland foods like bread, rice, and plain pasta
  • take over-the-counter (OTC) anti-vomiting or antidiarrheal medications

Prescription antivirals and antibiotics cannot treat the stomach flu.

To allow yourself to recover from the stomach flu and to prevent passing it to others, consider staying home for at least 48 hours after your symptoms have improved.

You should see a doctor if you think you’re recovering from the stomach flu but are experiencing pain lasting longer than a few days. Also consider getting medical help if your stomach pain is severe.

See a healthcare professional if you’re experiencing:

In most cases, a viral stomach flu is treatable at home. While less common, certain parasitic and bacterial infections can also cause gastroenteritis and may be diagnosable by a doctor.

A medical professional can also help determine whether your symptoms are related to another health condition and not the stomach flu.

Consider seeing a doctor if you have abdominal pain along with severe vomiting and diarrhea. They may need to treat you with intravenous fluids and electrolytes to prevent complications like dehydration.

The stomach flu is highly contagious. Practicing good hygiene, such as frequent handwashing and not touching your face with unclean hands are methods you can use to protect yourself from the stomach flu. Staying physically away from others who are sick can also help.

Another preventive practice is to disinfect common surfaces like doorknobs and light switches. Avoid preparing and handling food for others if you’re sick.

Prevention can also vary based on the type of virus. For example, there are two vaccines for the rotavirus available for young children, given by oral drops. RotaTeq is given in three doses at 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months. Rotarix is given in two doses at 2 months and 4 months.

The Centers for Disease Prevention (CDC) recommends that the first dose is to be given before 15 weeks, and all other doses before 8 months of age.

Also, while hand sanitizers are useful if you don’t have access to soap and water, these products do not typically kill the norovirus.

Abdominal pain is a common symptom of the stomach flu. While the duration varies, most cases last a few days. Abdominal pain persisting beyond this time may indicate a more serious issue or perhaps another medical condition like IBS or IBD.

Consider speaking with a doctor if you’re experiencing abdominal pain lasting longer than a couple of weeks. They can help determine the next steps in terms of diagnosis and treatment to get to the root cause and also help you feel better.