Abdominal Pain

Symptom

Abdominal Pain (AP)

This symptom is pain in the abdominal area, stomach region, or belly (often referred to as stomach pain) or in the abdominal area.

AP is a nonspecific symptom that may be associated with a multitude of conditions. Some do not occur within the abdomen itself, but cause abdominal discomfort. An example would be the AP associated with strep throat. Some originate within the abdomen, but are not related to the gastrointestinal tract, such as a dissecting aortic aneurysm. Other pain is related directly to the gastrointestinal tract.

The severity of the pain does not always reflect the severity of the condition causing the pain. Severe AP can be associated with mild conditions, such as gas or the cramping of viral gastroenteritis, while relatively mild pain may be present with severe and life-threatening conditions, such as cancer of the colon or early appendicitis.

AP can be caused by toxins, infection, biliary tract disease, liver disease, renal disease, bladder infections, menstruation, ovulation, female and male genitourinary disease, vascular problems, malignancy, ulcers, perforation, pancreatic disease, hernias, trauma, and metabolic diseases. The list is so extensive that it would be impossible to name all the possible diseases in each of the above groups.

Causes

Bladder infections
Cholecystitis and/or gallstones
Colic in infants (infants to 4 months)
Excessive gas
Endometriosis
Food allergy
Food poisoning (salmonella, shigella)
Hernia
Indigestion
Kidney stones
Lactose intolerance (milk intolerance)
Menstrual cramping
Ovarian cysts
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
Pneumonia (in children)
Recurrent AP (usually in children and adolescents -- a type of somatization disorder where emotional upset is reflected as physical discomfort)
Streptococcal pharyngitis (strep throat, in children this can cause AP)
Ulcers
Uterine fibroids
Viral gastroenteritis

Common causes in children:

Gastroesophageal reflux
Chronic constipation
Parasite infections (Giardia)
Excess fructose or sorbitol ingestion
Sickle cell crisis
Crohn's disease

Treatments

For mild pains, sip water or other clear fluids. Avoid solid food. Antacids may provide some relief. AVOID narcotic pain medications, aspirin, and NSAIDs unless the health care provider prescribes them. Also, new alternative therapy using TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator) has been proven to effectively treat these symptoms.