Diseases and conditions Mouth and Digestive Diseases

Abdominal Pain, what are the most common causes?

November 1, 2022 Helal Medical

What is the meaning of Abdominal Pain? what are the most common causes? How to manage them and when should you see a doctor? In this article I will explain, in summary, the most common causes and how to manage the pain.

What is Abdominal Pain?

Abdominal pain is a very annoying issue, that may occur suddenly without any apparent reasons. It is a common condition. Almost everyone would experience abdominal pain once or more during his life!

There are many causes for this condition. In most cases, the pain comes and goes on its own without any treatment. But this is not always the case, it is possible that there is a health problem behind, perhaps minor or serious health condition that requires medical intervention.

As I mentioned abdominal pain is not always related to a health condition. It may be caused by: Constipation, Menstrual cramps in women, Indigestion (and gas due to indigestion), Overeating, Pulled or strained muscles.

From an anatomical point of view, the abdomen contains many vital organs, any problem can cause abdominal pain. Among these organs: the digestive system (stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, gallbladder sac, pancreas), and urinary system (kidneys).

Causes of abdominal pain:

viral diseases
food poisoning
bacterial diseases
parasites
gastric ulcer or duodenal ulcer
Gallbladder bag problems
pancreatitis
Too much gas
Urinary tract infection
Diverticulitis / diverticulosis of the large intestine
Kidney or urinary tract stones
Feminist problems
Inflammatory bowel diseases
celiac
lactose intolerance
Malignant diseases
irritable bowel syndrome
Urgent cases
Appendicitis
Intestinal obstruction
testicular torsion
When should you see a doctor?
Complementary treatments for abdominal pain

Types of Abdominal Pain

It can be classified according to its onset and duration into two main types: acute and chronic. Acute pain comes and goes by its own, or with the help of pain relivers, in few hours or few days. While chronic type stays for long period, and it may be recurrent, come and go many times.

Other types include Localized pain which is limited to a certain area. It is caused stomach ulcers. Cramp-like pain that comes and goes, which may be caused by diarrhea, constipation or flatulence. Colicky pain (Abdominal Colic) which occurs suddenly and is usually severe, that may result from Gallstones or kidney stones.

Acute Pain

Causes of acute pain range from minor conditions to serious medical emergencies. Usually there are other symptoms with the pain. Such causes include:
– Gastrointestinal causes: Appendicitis, Cholangitis (bile duct inflammation), Cholecystitis. Diverticulitis, Duodenitis (inflammation of the duodenum), Fecal impaction (hard stool that can’t be out), Intussusception (in children), Liver abscess (pus-filled pocket in the liver), Mesenteric ischemia (decreased blood flow to intestines), Mesenteric lymphadenitis (swollen lymph nodes), Mesenteric thrombosis, Pancreatitis, Peritonitis (infection of the abdominal lining), Intestinal obstruction, Spleen infection, Splenic abscess (pus-filled pocket in the spleen), Torn colon or Ruptured spleen.
– Cardiovascular: Abdominal aortic aneurysm, Heart attack or Pericarditis (inflammation of the tissue around the heart)
– Urinary: Cystitis (bladder inflammation), Kidney infection (pyelonephritis), Kidney stones or Urinary tract infection (UTI).
– Respiratory: Pericarditis (inflammation of the tissue around the heart), Pneumonia, Pulmonary infarction (loss of blood flow to the lungs)
– Diabetic ketoacidosis
– Female related: Ectopic pregnancy (in which the fertilized egg implants and grows outside of the uterus, such as in a fallopian tube), or Salpingitis (inflammation of the fallopian tubes).
– Injury
– Shingles which is a viral infection that causes a painful rash. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus.

Chronic Pain

In this condition, symptoms range from mild to severe, coming and going with time. Conditions that may cause that type of pain include:

Cardia causes: Angina (reduced blood flow to the heart)
Gastrointestinal: Celiac disease, Gallstones, Gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining), Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Hiatal hernia, Inguinal hernia, irritable bowel syndrome, Functional dyspepsia, Ulcerative colitis (a type of inflammatory bowel disease) or Peptic ulcer.
Endometriosis, Mittelschmerz (ovulation pain), Ovarian cysts
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
Sickle cell anemia
Strained or pulled abdominal muscle

SUMMARY

Abdominal pain has many different causes, not every case needs medical intervention as some may resolve by their own. But some other cases need help and medical consultation, like severe pain, have fever, stools with blood, nausea and vomiting, yellowish skin, or with swelling of the abdomen.

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