Acute Abdominal Pain
Condition
(Severe Stomach Ache; Abdominal Cramps)
Definition
Acute abdomen is sudden and severe pain in the belly. It can be a sign of a larger problem.
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http://services.epnet.com/getimage.aspx?imageiid=64886488AC00010_97870_1_abdominal organs.jpgAC00010_97870_1_abdominal organs.jpgNULLjpgAC00010_97870_1_abdominal organs.jpgNULL\\hgfiler01a\intellect\images\AC00010_97870_1_abdominal organs.jpgNULL155NULL2007-02-015084006488_179512Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.Causes
There are many causes for abdominal pain, such as:
Inflammation in the:
Health problems, such as:
- An infection or abscess
- Diarrhea
- Peptic ulcer
- Diverticulitis
- Ulcerative colitis or Crohn disease
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Hernia
- Gallstones
- Kidney stones
- Ruptured or leaking abdominal aortic aneurysm
- Cancer
Other problems such as:
- Blockage in the small or large intestine
- Lack of blood flow to the organs in the belly
In women:
- Menstrual cramps
- Endometriosis
- Uterine fibroids
- Ovarian cysts
- Pelvic inflammatory disease—inflammation around the organs in the pelvis because of an infection
- Miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy
In babies:
- Intussusception—one part of the intestines slides next to the other, causing a block
- Volvulus—a twisting of the large intestine around itself
- Hirschsprung disease
Risk Factors
The above problems raise a person's risk of having abdominal pain.
Symptoms
The symptoms a person has will depend on the cause. Common ones are:
- Severe pain, swelling, or tenderness in the upper, middle, or lower part of the belly
- Muscles in the belly that contract without control or are very tense
- Fever
Diagnosis
The doctor will ask about symptoms, pain, and past health. A physical exam will be done. This will involve checking the pelvis and rectum.
Other tests may include:
- Blood tests
- Urine tests
- Imaging tests, such as:
- Exploratory laparotomy—surgery to look for problems inside the belly
Treatment
Sometimes emergency treatment is needed.
The goal of treatment is to ease pain and treat what is causing it. Options may be:
- Diet or lifestyle changes
- Medicines, such as pain relievers
- Surgery
Prevention
Acute abdomen cannot always be prevented. It has many causes.
Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Canadian Association of Gastroenterology
Canadian Digestive Health Foundation
Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Canadian Association of Gastroenterology
Canadian Digestive Health Foundation
References
- Abdominal pain (stomach pain), short-term. Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: https://familydoctor.org/symptom/abdominal-pain-stomach-pain-short-term.
- Acute abdominal pain in adults—approach to the patient. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/approach-to/acute-abdominal-pain-in-adolescents-approach-to-the-patient.
- Cartwright S, Knudson M. Diagnostic imaging of acute abdominal pain in adults. Am Fam Physician. 2015;91(7):452-459.
- Raymond M, Marsicovetere P, et al. Diagnosing and managing acute abdominal pain in children. JAAPA. 2022;35(1):16-20.
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