Stomach / Abdominal Pain

What is Abdominal Pain?

Abdominal pain can also be referred to as stomach ache or stomach pain. It can be mild or severe and can occur for a short period of time or for long periods of time e.g. weeks. Causes of pain can sometimes be unclear and sometimes it may be due to gastroenteritis and irritable bowel syndrome. In about 10% of the cases the underlying causes could be another disease such as appendicitis, diverticulitis leaking or ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, or ectopic pregnancy.

What are the causes for Abdominal Pain?

Abdominal pain has multiple possible causes. Causes such as gas pains or a pulled muscle are not serious. The location of the pain within the abdomen can provide an indication of the cause. Some conditions that may cause general abdominal pain not focused on any specific area are: Appendicitis, Crohn’s disease,Diabetic ketoacidosis, Diverticulitis, Injury, Intestinal obstruction, Irritable bowel syndrome.

What are the symptoms of Abdominal Pain?

Pain in the abdominal area generally or pain in a specific are of the abdomen such as lower abdomen center of the abdomen or the upper abdomen.

How is Abdominal Pain treated?

The exact cause of abdominal pain can be diagnosed using multiple tests and investigations. These include; Blood tests, Urine analysis, Imaging: Xrays and Ultrasound, an electrocardiograph to rule out a heart attack. Treatment depends on the underlying cause which is diagnosed.