Abdomen Pain
Abdominal pain can either appear suddenly (acute) and last for a short time or be persistent (chronic) and continue over a longer period.
Common Causes of Acute Abdominal Pain:
Sudden or severe abdominal pain can occur due to:
- Acute appendicitis
- Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder, usually from gallstones)
- Acute pancreatitis
- Perforated peptic ulcer (a hole in the stomach or duodenal wall)
- Intestinal obstruction
- Intestinal perforation
- Mesenteric vascular ischemia (reduced blood flow to the intestines)
- Diverticulitis (infection or inflammation of small pouches in the intestine)
- Kidney or ureteric stones, or pyelonephritis (kidney infection)
- Metabolic conditions such as diabetic ketoacidosis, uremia, or porphyria
- Gynecological causes, including ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, or ovarian tumors
Common Causes of Chronic Abdominal Pain:
Long-term or recurring abdominal pain may be due to: Functional dyspepsia (indigestion, bloating, or discomfort without a clear cause)
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Peptic ulcer disease
- Ulcers in the small or large intestine
- Chronic pancreatitis
- Chronic cholecystitis (long-term gallbladder inflammation)
- Abdominal tuberculosis
- Inflammatory bowel diseases like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease
- Ascites (fluid accumulation in the abdomen) due to tuberculosis, pancreatitis, or cancer
- Tumors of the stomach, intestines, liver, or pancreas
Abdomen Pain Treatment:
Treatment depends on the underlying cause of the pain:
- Patients with acute and severe abdominal pain should seek immediate medical care so doctors can perform the necessary tests to identify the exact cause.
- Chronic abdominal pain is often related to functional conditions like functional dyspepsia or irritable bowel syndrome. These are diagnosed after ruling out organic or structural causes through proper medical evaluation.