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Abdominal Pain - Abdominal Pain symptom, treatment, causes

The upper part of the abdomen contains all the important organs of digestion and excretion - the stomach, intestines, liver and gall bladder, pancreas, kidneys and ureters - as well as the spleen and the adrenal glands. The lower abdomen (pelvis) contains the internal organs of reproduction - the ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus in women and the seminal vesicles and prostate in men - and the bladder.

Abdominal pain is pain that you feel anywhere between your chest and groin. This is often referred to as the stomach region or belly. it often indicates a serious problem. Abdominal pain is a common problem. Most frequently the cause is benign and self-limited, but more serious causes may require urgent intervention. Sometimes a viral or bacterial infection is responsible.The pain may be an early warning sign of something more serious. Many organs are found within the abdominal cavity. The difficulty for a parent or caregiver lies in deciding which complaints need emergency care and which do not. Nerves are constantly monitoring activities in the body, and when those messages are transmitted to the brain and come into consciousness as unpleasant sensations, we may sense pain or discomfort.

Abdominal pain may result from disorders in any of these organs or the lymph glands that drain them, in the tissues that surround them, or in tissues of the abdominal wall. Much less commonly. pain may be referred to the abdomen from other parts of the body, such as the chest organs or the spinal cord.

Causes of Abdominal pain

Disorders of the stomach and intestines are among the causes of abdominal pain. They include peptic ulcer disease, gastroenteritis, appendicitis, colitis, diverticular disease. Dyspepsia, and bowel obstruction or perforation.

The cause of abdominal pain may be suspected from the patient's description of its onset, nature, site, and other symptoms and signs. Investigations including blood tests, X-rays and ultrasound may be needed to confirm a tentative diagnosis.

Disorders of the digestive glands may be responsible, among them Hepatitis, Cholecystitis, Gallstonesand Pancreatitis. Digestive system pain may be felt in the upper, middle or lower abdomen, is often spasmodic, and may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea. Urinary tract disorders, including Nephritis, Pyelonephritis, Urinary Stones and Cystitis, are possible causes. Kidney pain is often also felt in the small of the back, and bladder disorders cause pain in the lower abdomen or genitals. Disorders of the reproductive system can also cause abdominal pain.

In women the commonest causes are Dysmenorrhoea; disorders of early pregnancy. such as miscarriage; Ectopic Pregnancy; Salpingitis or other pelvic infections; and Endometriosis, Ovarian Cysts and ovulation pain. These conditions usually cause lower abdominal or lower back pain, and may be accompanied byabnormal bleeding or discharge from the vagina. In men the commonest cause is inflammation of the prostate gland. The severity, speed and circumstances of onset, together with the site and the accompanying symptoms, will usually indicate whether the cause of abdominal pain is minor or serious.

Common Sites of Abdominal pain

Here are the list of common sites of Abdominal pain:

1. Gall bladder pain is felt under the right ribs, and may be constant or spasmodic.
2. PEPTIC ULCER DISEASE causes pain behind the lower end of the breastbone.
3. APPENDICITIS pain starts around the navel and later settles in the lower right abdomen.
4. Pancreatic pain is felt deep in the upper abdomen.
5. Kidney pain is felt in the small of the back.
6. Pain from the uterus, tubes and ovaries is felt deep in the lower abdomen and pelvis, and may spread to the lower back or the inner side of the thighs.
7. A blocked ureter may cause spasmodic pain that spreads to the genitals or groin.

WHAT TO DO ABOUT ABDOMINAL PAIN - Abdominal Pain Treatment

Consult a doctor immediately if the pain

• is sudden and severe
• follows a blow or injury to the abdomen or back
• remains severe or gets worse over 2 hours
• is associated with vomiting (especially of blood), fever or fainting
• occurs in a woman who is or may be pregnant. especially if it is accompanied by dizziness. fainting and/or any abnormal bleeding from the vagina.

Consult a doctor as soon as convenient if

• the pain is bad enough to interfere with sleep or normal daily activities
• bouts of pain are recurrent
• there have been previous attacks of similar pain due to peptic ulcer disease, gallstones, kidney stones or suspected appendicitis
• pain is persistent, even if not severe, in a child under 6 or an elderly person.

Colloquial - Stomach ache or Tummy ache.

Mainly Abdominal Pain is the pain felt in any region of the abdomen.

Common descriptions of Abdominal Pain

Abdominal Pain is the Burning, Griping, Sharp and frequent, Constant and increasing in intensity.

Abdominal Pain may originate from any of the organs in the abdominal cavity, from the digestive tract, or from the abdominal wall itself.

Rarely, problems in the spine or chest may also be felt as abdominal pain.

Abdominal Pain may be related to any physiological activity: eating, passing stools or urine, menstruation. Or, may be entirely unrelated to any of these.

Abdominal Pain may be located in any quadrant of the abdomen: children will usually point to the navel when asked where it hurts most.

When to see the Doctor:

Abdominal pain is such a common complaint that we tend to rationalize it all too onen as 'indigestion' or 'worms'. While that may work when the pain is short-lived and infrequent, intense or frequent bouts of abdominal pain should not be disregarded.

Severe conditions that begin as abdominal pain generally make the sufferer feel extremely ill in a very short time. But equally severe illnesses may masquerade as 'mild pain', dangerously delaying diagnosis and treatment.