Right lower quadrant (RLQ) pain is tummy (abdominal) pain that is mainly in the lower half on the right-hand side. It is sometimes also called right iliac fossa (RIF) pain, although this really means pain in a smaller area in the lower right corner of your tummy. Show
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Right Lower Quadrant PainIn this article
Where is my right lower quadrant?The right lower quadrant (RLQ) is a section of your tummy (abdomen). Look down at your tummy, and mentally divide the area from the bottom of your ribs down to your pubic hair into four quarters. The quarter on your right side below your belly button is your RLQ. Abdominopelvic QuadrantsBlausen.com staff (2014). “Medical gallery of Blausen Medical 2014”. WikiJournal of Medicine 1 (2). DOI:10.15347/wjm/2014.010. ISSN 2002-4436By Blausen.com staff (2014). “Blausen Medical 2014”. WikiJournal of Medicine 1 (2). DOI:10.15347/wjm/2014.010. ISSN 2002-4436. What is in my right lower quadrant?Quadrant organsMariana Ruiz Villarreal, modified by Madhero88 [Public domain], via Wikimedia CommonsBy Mariana Ruiz Villarreal, modified by Madhero88 [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
And don't forget the skin, muscles and nerves of that area. What are the most common causes of right lower quadrant pain?The list of causes of RLQ pain is extremely long but the following are some of the more common possibilities. They are not in order of how common they are. What are the gut problems that can cause right lower quadrant pain?All sorts of common and uncommon problems to do with your guts can give you pain in this area. For example: Constipation
See the separate leaflet called Constipation for more information. Gastroenteritis and food poisoning
See the separate leaflets called Gastroenteritis and Food Poisoning for more information. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
See the separate leaflet called Irritable Bowel Syndrome for more information. Appendicitis
See the separate leaflet called Appendicitis for more information. Diverticulitis
See the separate leaflet called Diverticula (Diverticulosis, Diverticular Disease, Diverticulitis) for more information. Trapped inguinal or femoral hernia
See the separate leaflet called Hernia for more information. What is a common kidney problem that can cause right lower quadrant pain?Kidney infection
See the separate leaflet called Kidney Infection (Pyelonephritis) for more information. What are the problems that only women get that can cause right lower quadrant pain?Mittelschmerz
Pelvic inflammatory disease
See the separate leaflet called Pelvic Inflammatory Disease for more information. Twisted ovary
See the separate leaflet called Ovarian Cyst for more information. Endometriosis
See the separate leaflet called Endometriosis for more information. Ectopic pregnancy See the separate leaflet called Right Lower Quadrant Pain in Pregnancy for causes of abdominal pain in pregnancy. General blood tests available nowGive yourself a check-up with a general blood profile, now available in Patient Access Book nowWhat are the problems that only men get that can cause right lower quadrant pain?Any pain coming from the right side of the scrotum can cause pain in the RLQ but usually the pain in the scrotum will be worse. Torsion of the testicle
See the separate leaflet called Torsion of the Testis for more information. Epididymo-orchitis
See the separate leaflet called Epididymo-orchitis for more information. What are the other possible causes of right lower quadrant pain?Inflammatory bowel diseaseCrohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD is not to be confused with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) which is very different. These conditions cause the lining of the gut to become inflamed. Diarrhoea (sometimes with blood mixed in) is usually the main symptom.
See the separate leaflet called Crohn's Disease for more information.
See the separate leaflet called Ulcerative Colitis for more information. Colon cancer
See the separate leaflet called Colon, Rectal and Bowel Cancer (Colorectal Cancer) for more information. Kidney stones
See the separate leaflet called Kidney Stones for more information. Shingles
See the separate leaflet called Shingles (Herpes Zoster) for more information. Abdominal aortic aneurysm
See the separate leaflet called Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm for more information. What else could it be?These lists of possible causes for RLQ are by no means exhaustive and there are many other conditions that can cause pain in the RLQ. Problems in your spine or back could be 'referred'. Referred pain in this situation means that it is coming from your back but you are feeling it around the front. Muscular pulls and sprains can also affect you in the tummy area. If this is the case, moving the particular muscle would make the pain worse, whereas if you were to lie completely still, it wouldn't hurt. Should I see a doctor?Yes, if you have a pain which doesn't settle, you will probably need to see a health professional to help you figure out the cause. See a doctor urgently if you:
What are the usual tests for right lower quadrant pain?Your doctor will narrow the (enormous) field of possible RLQ pain diagnoses by talking with you and examining you. They may be able to find the cause simply by doing so. For example, if they find the typical rash of shingles, you will need no further tests to find the cause. The doctor will certainly need to feel your tummy (abdomen) in the area you have the pain, but may also need to examine other parts too, such as the rest of your tummy. You will probably be asked to provide a sample of urine, to rule out kidney problems. You may well have to go for blood tests. These might include tests to:
What other tests might be needed for right lower quadrant pain?Next it will depend on what the examination and the tests above have suggested. In some cases no further tests will be needed - if, for example, your doctor is confident you have constipation or shingles. If a problem with your large bowel is suspected, you may need an examination with a tube with a camera put into your large bowel (a colonoscopy). A computerised tomography (CT) scan or an ultrasound scan may be helpful to look for diverticula and to look at your kidneys. These tests are also used in women to look at the ovary and tubes. In some cases an X-ray of the tummy may be useful. Further tests include other 'scopes' (such as a sigmoidoscopy) and other scans (such as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan). If it is thought you have appendicitis, an ectopic pregnancy (women) or a torsion of your testicle (testis) - men, you may only have one or two of these tests before having emergency surgery to treat your problem. Nobody will need all these tests, and some people may not need any. What treatment will I need for right lower quadrant pain?There is no single answer to this until you know what the cause of your pain is. See the relevant leaflet for the condition with which you have been diagnosed. Treatments for a few of the causes of RLQ pain are briefly discussed below.
What is the outlook?Again this depends entirely on the cause of the pain. Some conditions settle very quickly on their own (for example, gastroenteritis), or with the help of antibiotics (for example, a kidney infection). Others can be cured with surgery, such as appendicitis or torsion of the testicle (testis). Some are long-term conditions, for which there is no cure although there are treatments, such those used for people who have Crohn's disease. Your doctor should be able to give you an idea of the outlook (prognosis) once a diagnosis has become clear. Next article Causes in Pregnancy Are you protected against flu? See if you are eligible for a free NHS flu jab today. Check now Further reading and references
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The information on this page is written and peer reviewed by qualified clinicians. Disclaimer: This article is for information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions. Egton Medical Information Systems Limited has used all reasonable care in compiling the information but make no warranty as to its accuracy. Consult a doctor or other health care professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. For details see our conditions. What causes pain in lower abdomen right side?Why Do I Have Lower Right Abdominal Pain? Pain on the right side of the abdomen can be caused by conditions such as appendicitis, hernia, kidney issues, reproductive system issues, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), indigestion, or even gas. There are many possible reasons for discomfort in your right abdominal region.
What organs are in the lower right abdomen?Organs found in the right lower quadrant include the appendix, the upper portion of the colon, and the right ovary and the Fallopian tube in women. The right lower quadrant may be assessed when diagnosing appendicitis, in which case, this quadrant would be tender and painful.
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