Published: September 05, 2008 07:14 am         

Rev. Jesse Jackson hospitalized for stomach pains

CHICAGO (AP) — The Rev. Jesse Jackson was hospitalized and undergoing tests Thursday after complaining of severe stomach pains.

Jackson told The Associated Press that he entered Northwestern Memorial Hospital on Wednesday after falling ill earlier in the week. He was said to be resting comfortably Thursday evening.

Doctors told him he has viral gastroenteritis but were conducting more tests. The 66-year-old civil rights leader said he wasn’t sure when he would be released.

Jackson was doing voter registration work in Georgia earlier this week when he began to feel ill. His symptoms causes him to come home earlier than expected.

He said the work was very tiring and that doctors told him he may have become dehydrated.

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the stomach and small and large intestines. It isn’t considered serious for most people.