Abdominal pain

Abdominal pain – is discomfort felt in any part of the abdomen. It can be caused by a variety of factors: digestive disorders, infections, injuries, or illnesses. The pain may originate from internal organs, muscles, the abdominal wall, or even other parts of the body, such as the chest, pelvis, or back. Abdominal pain can be:

• Mild or severe;
• Dull or sharp;
• Burning or aching;
• Constant or intermittent;
• Localized (in one spot) or diffuse (all over).

How common is abdominal pain?

Almost everyone experiences abdominal pain from time to time. Most often, it is not serious and goes away on its own. However, it can be a sign of a serious illness or even a condition requiring emergency care.

What are the four types of abdominal pain?

Doctors often classify abdominal pain by location to more accurately determine the cause. The abdomen is divided into four main areas:

• Upper abdomen—above the navel;
• Lower abdomen—below the navel;
• Right side—to the right of the midline;
• Left side—to the left of the midline.

What does the location of abdominal pain mean?

Location is an important indicator of abdominal pain, but it is not the only factor. It can indicate which organs are affected. For example, pain under the right rib cage may indicate a problem with the liver or gallbladder. However, your doctor will also want to know more about how the pain feels, how often you experience it, and how severe it is. This will give them additional clues about what condition you might have.

What are the most common causes of abdominal pain?

Most causes of abdominal pain are temporary and not serious. They may be related to digestion, the menstrual cycle, or a temporary infection. For example:

Digestive Disorders:

• Constipation;
• Diarrhea;
• Food allergies and intolerances;
• Food poisoning.

Inflammation:

• Viral gastroenteritis;
• Peptic ulcer;
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease;
• Urinary tract infection.

The Female Reproductive Cycle:

• Menstrual cramps;
• Ovulation pain.

What are the more serious causes of abdominal pain?

Sometimes abdominal pain indicates a serious health condition that requires treatment. Pain in different areas may indicate that different organs are affected. For example:

Upper right quadrant

Pain in the upper right quadrant is most often associated with diseases of the liver or gallbladder, such as:

• Hepatitis (alcoholic, metabolic, viral, or autoimmune);
• Gallstones;
• Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder);
• Cancer, stones, and strictures of the bile ducts;
• Gallbladder cancer;
• Liver cancer.

It may also be a localized problem in the duodenum, ascending colon, or right kidney, such as:

• Kidney infection;
• Kidney stones;
• Duodenal ulcer;
• Colonic obstruction.

Upper Left Quadrant

Pain in the upper left quadrant may indicate:

• Pancreatitis;
• Liver cancer;
• Gastritis;
• Stomach ulcer;
• Stomach cancer;
• Kidney infection;
• Kidney stones.

If the pain radiates from the chest, it may be related to:

• Angina;
• Heart attack;
• Pericarditis;
• Pneumonia;
• Pleurisy;
• Pulmonary embolism (PE).

Lower abdomen

The lower abdomen contains most of the small and large intestines. Pain in the lower abdomen is most often associated with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. It may also be related to the ureters, ovaries, or uterus.

Causes of abdominal pain may include:

• Irritable bowel syndrome;
• Functional dyspepsia;
• Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis);
• Obstruction of the large or small intestine;
• Small intestine cancer;
• Colon cancer;
• Aortic aneurysm;
• Peritonitis;
• Mesenteric lymphadenitis;
• Intestinal ischemia;
• Hernia;
• Kidney stones.

Pain associated with the pelvic organs may be caused by:

• Endometriosis;
• Ovarian cysts;
• Pelvic inflammatory disease;
• Ectopic pregnancy;
• Ovarian cancer;
• Uterine cancer.

Lower Left Quadrant

Pain felt specifically in the lower left quadrant of the abdomen is most commonly associated with diverticulosis and diverticulitis of the colon. Diverticula can occur throughout the colon, but they most often develop in the lower left quadrant.

Lower right side

Pain that is felt is felt specifically in the lower right part of the abdomen, it may be related to appendicitis. 

How is abdominal pain diagnosed?

• Medical history and physical examination: to make an accurate diagnosis, the doctor will ask about your symptoms, their onset, progression, family history, and risk factors, and will perform a physical examination of the abdomen;
• Laboratory tests: complete blood count, blood chemistry panel, urinalysis;
• Abdominal X-ray: may reveal signs of intestinal obstruction or free air;
• Abdominal ultrasound: may reveal changes in abdominal organs and pathological signs;
• Abdominal computed tomography (CT): may reveal the extent of changes in abdominal organs and pathological signs.

How is abdominal pain treated?

Treatment for abdominal pain depends on its cause:

• Surgical treatment — some conditions, such as gallstones or appendicitis, may require surgery;
• Conservative treatment — some conditions, such as ulcers or infections, are treated with medication and other non-invasive measures.

When should I be concerned and see a doctor about abdominal pain?

Always see a doctor if the pain is unexplained, persistent, or severe, or if you have sustained an injury or are pregnant. You should also see a doctor if your abdominal pain is accompanied by any of the following symptoms:

• Persistent fever;
• Persistent nausea or vomiting;
• Blood in the stool or urine;
• Swelling and tenderness;
• Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin);
• Pain in any other part of the body
• Shortness of breath or symptoms that worsen during physical activity.