Darrick Robles Abdominal pain is one of the most common reasons for seeing a doctor. Abdominal pain is often harmless and goes away on its own. In some cases, however, the pain can be dangerous and requires medical attention. A distinction is made between pain that occurs quickly, i.e. acute, and chronic pain that has existed for months or years. Subacute pain cannot be classified as either acute or chronic.
Symptoms of abdominal pain
The main symptom is pain in the abdominal region. The following criteria are important for further differentiation of the underlying disease:
Localization and radiation: The abdomen is divided into 4 quadrants: right and left upper and lower abdomen. The localization of the pain (e.g. right upper abdomen) and the corresponding radiation (e.g. in the back or in the right arm) give further indications of the possible cause of the pain.
Quality, duration and onset of pain: Is it, for example, burning, stabbing or labor-like pain? Did the pain start suddenly or was it constant?
Accompanying symptoms can include fever, nausea and vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, changes in stool (color and consistency), increased urination, fatigue, dizziness, cough, shortness of breath and many others.
Danger! Sudden abdominal pain that radiates into the arm or back and is accompanied by shortness of breath, chest tightness or vomiting must be clarified by a doctor immediately. These can be accompanied by a serious illness.
Causes of abdominal pain
The cause of abdominal pain usually depends on its location. The decisive factor is whether the pain is diffuse (everywhere) or well localized. There are a number of diseases that have typical localizations and characteristics:
For example, pain in the upper right abdomen can be associated with a disease of the gallbladder, liver or pancreas such as gallstones, gallbladder inflammation, hepatitis or pancreatitis.
Pain in the right lower abdomen is often caused by appendicitis. Other causes can also be kidney stones or inflammation of the urinary tract.
Upper left abdominal pain may be associated with a spleen disorder such as splenomegaly (enlarged spleen).
Pain in the left lower abdomen can often correlate with kidney stones, diverticulitis, cystitis or intestinal infections, among other things.
Pain that radiates throughout the upper abdomen and is accompanied by heartburn (a burning sensation in the throat) and increased belching are common signs of reflux disease, but can also have other causes.
Lactose intolerance, gluten intolerance (celiac disease), constipation, diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and other conditions can also cause diffuse (ubiquitous) abdominal pain.
abdominal pain in children
Depending on the age of the child, various diseases can cause abdominal pain in children. Constipation often leads to abdominal pain.
In addition, gastrointestinal infections, appendicitis, urinary tract infections, viral or bacterial infections or a foreign body and pseudoappendicitis (technically known as mesenteric lymphadenitis) can also occur.
Gynecological abdominal pain
Women of childbearing potential have frequent menstrual cramps (abdominal cramps in the lower abdomen), which often occur 1 to 2 days before the start of the menstrual cycle and can last for several hours or even days.
Long-standing or acute lower abdominal pain requires further investigation to exclude more serious causes, such as an extrauterine pregnancy (pregnancy outside the uterus, eg in the fallopian tube) or ruptured ovarian cysts.
Diagnosis: How can a doctor determine the cause of abdominal pain?
A detailed anamnesis provides valuable information about the causative disease and the urgency of therapy. Listening and palpating the entire abdomen are part of the standard examinations for abdominal pain. A digital rectal exam could also be done. Other diagnostic tools include ultrasound examination, examination of the urine and laboratory parameters.
When do I have to go to the doctor?
Abdominal pain is not uncommon and in many cases it goes away on its own. If the pain lasts longer, is stronger, or is accompanied by other symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea or fever, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Danger! Sudden onset of severe abdominal pain accompanied by violent vomiting, low blood pressure, shortness of breath, reduced general condition, dizziness or bleeding must be clarified immediately by a doctor.
Abdominal pain during pregnancy also needs to be looked at directly by a doctor. It could be a life-threatening disease!
Therapy: What therapy options are there and what can I do myself?
For mild abdominal pain, bed rest can often be sufficient. If the pain does not improve, it is advisable to consult a doctor. Since abdominal pain can have a variety of causes, it is difficult to find the cause and treat it without further diagnostic measures.
In the case of menstrual cramps (abdominal cramps before or during menstruation), heat treatment (e.g. hot-water bottle on the stomach) or, in individual cases, sport such as aerobics, yoga or jogging can help to relieve pain. If the pain persists, contraceptives or painkillers may be used.
This is how Med-Healths can help with stomach pain
A detailed discussion with one of our doctors can help you to assess the severity of your symptoms. Is it advisable to take pain-relieving medication? Are there other therapies that can help you? Should you be examined by a certain specialist? You can discuss all of these questions in more detail via an online consultation with one of our Med-Healths doctors. If necessary, our doctor can issue you with a prescription, sick leave or referral to a specialist.
Warning – if you experience severe and sudden abdominal pain, you should see a doctor for an examination or, depending on the severity of the pain, call an ambulance.
