The stomach is a muscular organ sitting in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. Responsible for digestion and an integral part of the gastrointestinal system, reasons for stomach pain after eating may indicate a problem. Treatment of this pain should ideally be focused on the reason, or the etiology of the pain. You should not ignore severe stomach pain as it may require emergency treatment.
Gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis, or stomach flu, may cause stomach pain after eating. The virus attacks the entire gastrointestinal tract leading to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain as quickly as 4 hours after infection according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Hand washing and avoiding contaminated foods will keep this virus away.
Lactose Intolerance
Lactose is a simple form of sugar found in most dairy products including milk. People who are lactose intolerant lack the enzyme lactase, which is responsible for digesting this sugar. Therefore, ingesting any lactose-containing product, such as ice cream, can cause severe stomach pain, bloating and gas. Avoiding lactose products should relieve the stomach pain after eating.
Ulcers
An ulcer is a shallow erosion of the soft tissue lining of the stomach or intestines. When ulcers occur in the stomach, called gastric ulcers, eating may not be a fun experience. If the food or drink is acidic, the acidity will irritate the ulcer and cause stomach pain after eating it. Stomach ulcers require antibiotics to completely heal.
Celiac Disease
Those who suffer from Celiac disease may have frequent bouts of bloating and severe stomach pain after eating foods containing gluten. Gluten is found in many foods including wheat and rye products and byproducts; it is toxic to those with Celiac disease, according to the American Academy of Physicians.
Food Poisoning
Food poisoning arises from ingestion of foods contaminated with bacteria and can last for 12 to 48 miserable hours, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea accompany stomach pain during a case of food poisoning.
