Abdominal Pain

Abdomen | General Practice | Abdominal Pain (Disease)


Description

Abdominal pain (or stomach ache) is a discomfort in the abdomen and can be one of the symptoms associated with transient disorders or serious disease.

Causes and risk factors

Abdominal pain is caused by inflammation (for example, appendicitis, diverticulitis, colitis ), by stretching or distention of an organ (for example, obstruction of the intestine, blockage of a bile duct by gallstones, swelling of the liver with hepatitis), or by loss of the supply of blood to an organ (for example, ischemic colitis).

Mild abdominal pain is common and is often due to excessive alcohol intake, eating unwisely, or an attack of diarrhea. Pain in the lower abdomen is common during menstruation but is occasionally due to a gynecological disorder such as endometriosis. cystitis is a common cause of pain or discomfort in the abdomen. Bladder distension as a result of urinary obstruction may also cause abdominal pain.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Investigation of abdominal pain may include the use of imaging tests such as ultrasound scanning, and endoscopic examination in the form of gastroscopy, colonoscopy, or laparoscopy.

Acute abdomen can be defined as severe, persistent abdominal pain of sudden onset that is likely to require surgical intervention to treat its cause. The pain may frequently be associated with nausea and vomiting, abdominal distention, fever and signs of shock. One of the most common conditions associated with acute abdominal pain is acute appendicitis....