Acute Abdominal Pain

There are many causes of acute abdominal pain but the most common conditions include:

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture – enlarged blood vessels in the abdomen
• Acute appendicitis – swelling of the appendix
• Cancer
• Cholangitis – swelling of the bile duct caused by infection or gallstones
• Cholecystitis – swelling of the gall bladder
• Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and other inflammatory disorders of the colon
• Diverticulitis – swelling of small pouches in the large intestine
• Gastritis – swelling of the stomach lining caused by drinking too much alcohol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use
• Gastro-oesophageal reflux diseases (GERD) – a chronic digestive disease which occurs when the acid from the stomach refluxes (flows back) into the oesophagus (food pipe)
• Heart attack
• Hernia
• Intestinal obstruction – blockage in the intestinal tract
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) – a chronic disorder that affects the normal functioning of the colon
• Kidney stones
• Pancreatitis – swelling of the pancreas
• Pelvic inflammatory disease – swelling of the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes
• Peptic ulcers – open sores in the lining of the stomach, the duodenum (beginning of the intestines) or in the oesophagus (food pipe)
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs), kidney infection, bladder infection
• Viral gastroenteritis – stomach flu

The symptoms of acute abdominal pain depend on the underlying causes but they generally include:

• Fever
• Non-voluntary contraction of the abdominal muscles
• Persistent and severe pain in the upper, middle or lower abdomen
• Swelling and tenderness in the upper, middle or lower abdomen
• Tense abdominal muscles

Treatment of acute abdominal pain varies depending on the underlying condition. Your doctor will evaluate your condition and suggest a suitable treatment plan for you. This may include a combination of the following:

• Dietary changes and lifestyle changes to improve your condition
• Medication to ease symptoms. However, some doctors might delay giving painkillers because the details of the pain can aid in helping find its cause.
• Surgery for most causes of abdominal pain