Abdominal pain is one of the most common reasons for doctor visit with severity ranging from mild to life threatening. Everyone experiences abdominal pain from time to time. As with the other common symptoms, it’s important to recognize whether or not the pain requires immediate medical attention.
Often times, abdominal pain is accompanied by changes in bowel movement (either diarrhea or constipation), blood or mucus in the stool, flatulence, bloating, nausea and vomiting, fever, back pain, urinary pain and urgency, chest pain, shortness of breath and cough. In women, abdominal pain may be accompanied by changes in menstrual pattern and vaginal bleeding or discharge. In these cases, the possibility of pregnancy or other diseases related to the female reproductive organs must be considered.
In mild cases, the causes of abdominal pain can be indigestion, constipation, food poisoning, food intolerance, gastro esophageal reflux disease, irritable bowel syndrome, gas, muscle strain, and menstrual cramps in women. More serious cases include peptic ulcers, gastroenteritis, appendicitis, gall stone, kidney stone, urinary tract infection, hernia, inflammatory bowel diseases, pancreatitis, hepatitis, and diverticulitis. The really serious problems are bowel or intestinal obstruction, perforation, peritonitis, ectopic pregnancy, ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, cancer of the stomach, pancreas, colon, liver, or other organs, and intestinal ischemia.
Evaluation of the onset, duration, location, quality, and other characteristics of the abdominal pain, along with the accompanying symptoms may give a clue whether or not it is caused by a serious underlying disease that requires emergency treatment.
What are the symptoms that accompany abdominal pain?
Often times, abdominal pain is accompanied by changes in bowel movement (either diarrhea or constipation), blood or mucus in the stool, flatulence, bloating, nausea and vomiting, fever, back pain, urinary pain and urgency, chest pain, shortness of breath and cough. In women, abdominal pain may be accompanied by changes in menstrual pattern and vaginal bleeding or discharge. In these cases, the possibility of pregnancy or other diseases related to the female reproductive organs must be considered.
What are the causes of abdominal pain?
In mild cases, the causes of abdominal pain can be indigestion, constipation, food poisoning, food intolerance, gastro esophageal reflux disease, irritable bowel syndrome, gas, muscle strain, and menstrual cramps in women. More serious cases include peptic ulcers, gastroenteritis, appendicitis, gall stone, kidney stone, urinary tract infection, hernia, inflammatory bowel diseases, pancreatitis, hepatitis, and diverticulitis. The really serious problems are bowel or intestinal obstruction, perforation, peritonitis, ectopic pregnancy, ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, cancer of the stomach, pancreas, colon, liver, or other organs, and intestinal ischemia.
How can you tell if the abdominal pain is a sign of serious disease?
Evaluation of the onset, duration, location, quality, and other characteristics of the abdominal pain, along with the accompanying symptoms may give a clue whether or not it is caused by a serious underlying disease that requires emergency treatment.
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| The characteristics, duration, and causes of abdominal pain can vary greatly. |
Seek medical attention of you experience any of the following:
- Severe pain that restricts your movement or made you so uncomfortable that you can’t sit still.
- Pain that occurs after a recent trauma or injury
- Severe tenderness when you touch your abdomen
- A rigid, board-like abdomen
- Pain accompanied by fever over 38.3 C (101F)
- Vomiting blood or coffee grounds appearing substance
- Blood in the stool, either fresh blood or black tarry stool
- Worsening bloating or constipation or inability to pass stool
- Blood in the urine or cloudy urine
- Inability to take down food or liquid
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Vaginal bleeding
- Pain that occurred during pregnancy
- Worsening symptoms that do not improve after 2 days
- Unexplained weight loss over a period of time
Other considerations regarding abdominal pain
Sometimes the degree of pain may not reflect the seriousness of the condition. Early appendicitis or pancreatic cancer may elicit only vague pain. In contrary, you may have severe pain from gas or muscle cramps. However, it’s better to be safe than sorry and seek medical help for all severe pain.
Generalized pain is usually caused by indigestion, gas, viral gastroenteritis, food poisoning or intolerance, and irritable bowel syndrome. Usually, the cause of generalized pain is less serious than localized pain. However, severe generalized pain with rigid abdomen is a sign of a serious problem like perforation, peritonitis, or intestinal blockage.
Depending on the location, localized pain is usually caused by abnormalities of the internal organs. Upper abdominal pain may be caused by peptic ulcers, gastro-esophageal reflux disease, or other diseases in the chest cavity like pneumonia or angina. Pancreatitis and early appendicitis usually cause pain in the central area of the abdomen. In late appendicitis, the pain will migrate to lower right abdomen. Diverticulitis causes pain in the lower left area. Location for the rest of the causes of abdominal pain may vary.
Generalized pain is usually caused by indigestion, gas, viral gastroenteritis, food poisoning or intolerance, and irritable bowel syndrome. Usually, the cause of generalized pain is less serious than localized pain. However, severe generalized pain with rigid abdomen is a sign of a serious problem like perforation, peritonitis, or intestinal blockage.
Depending on the location, localized pain is usually caused by abnormalities of the internal organs. Upper abdominal pain may be caused by peptic ulcers, gastro-esophageal reflux disease, or other diseases in the chest cavity like pneumonia or angina. Pancreatitis and early appendicitis usually cause pain in the central area of the abdomen. In late appendicitis, the pain will migrate to lower right abdomen. Diverticulitis causes pain in the lower left area. Location for the rest of the causes of abdominal pain may vary.
Finding out the cause of abdominal pain
Physical examination by a health care professional is still the most important diagnostic step. A good history taking by a doctor will give a clue to aid the diagnosis and saves you from undergoing expensive and unnecessary medical procedures. Depending on your condition, after physical examination your doctor may order stool, urine, or blood test, ultrasound, CT-scan, and endoscopy.
The management of abdominal pain depends on the cause. Mild pain from indigestion, viral gastroenteritis, or food poisoning can be treated with home treatment. Antacids, antibiotics, and other oral medications may be given for ulcers or conditions related to infection. Surgery is often needed for more serious causes like appendicitis, hernia, or perforation.
Treatment of abdominal pain
The management of abdominal pain depends on the cause. Mild pain from indigestion, viral gastroenteritis, or food poisoning can be treated with home treatment. Antacids, antibiotics, and other oral medications may be given for ulcers or conditions related to infection. Surgery is often needed for more serious causes like appendicitis, hernia, or perforation.
Other articles in common symptoms:
- Everyone has had a fever at least once in their lifetime. Like pain, fever is an important sign that tells you something wrong is happening in your body. Read more about fever and when to seek help when you have one
- Coughing is basically a protective reflex to clear the lungs and airways from foreign material. It's A cough is only but a symptom, not a disease. Read more about the cough reflex
- The skin is our body's largest organ. Changes in skin appearance may be caused by something as minor as acne or they can signal a more serious underlying condition. Read more about common skin problems
