What Causes Abdominal Pain
There are many underlying causes of abdominal pain. Some of these are short-term causes that arent serious the symptoms may last only hours or days, and may clear up by themselves. Others are longer lasting and may be more serious.
There are also causes of abdominal pain that require urgent medical attention and may be life-threatening.
Some causes of abdominal pain are more common or less likely in certain age groups or genders.
Children often get stomach or abdominal pain. Some of the most common causes are gastroenteritis, wind or indigestion. Some causes of abdominal pain apply mainly to children, such as colic, intussusception, and testicular torsion. For more information on these, see abdominal pain in children.
Women may experience abdominal pain associated with their periods, pregnancy or problems with their urinary or reproductive system.
Older people are more likely than younger people to have abdominal pain due to heart or lung problems, bowel obstruction, or conditions such as diverticulitis or gallstones.
How Often Do People Have Chronic Abdominal Pain
About 10 to 15% of children aged 5 to 16 years, particularly those aged 8 to 12 years, have chronic or recurring abdominal pain. It is somewhat more common among girls. Chronic abdominal pain is also common among adults, affecting women more often than men. People with chronic abdominal pain may also have other symptoms, depending on the cause.
Uti Signs And Symptoms In Childrenare Different
UTIs are the second most common type of infection in children, behind ear infections. Unfortunately, early symptoms of UTI in young children are not always apparent. And sometimes there are no UTI symptoms at all, or your child is simply unable to articulate the UTI symptoms he or she is experiencing. When it comes to babies under 2 years old, parents need to tune in to these signs of a urinary tract infection:
- Fever A fever of 104°F or higher may be the sole symptom in babies. Its also the most common symptom of UTI during babys first two years.
- Jaundice Up to 18 percent of babies with prolonged or worsening jaundice also have UTIs. When jaundice occurs one full year after birth, its a strong indicator of UTI.
- Fussiness
- Poor feeding or failure to thrive
- Sluggish
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Common Causes Of Upset Stomach & Diarrhea
An upset stomach can have a number of causes, ranging from irritable bowel syndrome to stress and anxiety. To do away with chronic discomfort, its important to address the symptoms and the underlying cause. Some common causes of upset stomach and diarrhea include:
- Fish
- Steamed veggies and canned fruit
- Mashed potatoes
Other factors contributing to stomach upset include medications, smoking, overindulging in alcohol, sugar, chocolate, or carbonated beverages, overeating, and fatty, greasy, or spicy foods.1
Shortness Of Breath After Very Little Effort
Why this happens:
Being short of breath can be related to the kidneys in two ways. First, extra fluid in the body can build up in the lungs. And second, anemia can leave your body oxygen-starved and short of breath.
What patients said:
At the times when I get the shortness of breath, its alarming to me. It just fears me. I think maybe I might fall or something so I usually go sit down for awhile.
I couldnt sleep at night. I couldnt catch my breath, like I was drowning or something. And, the bloating, cant breathe, cant walk anywhere. It was bad.
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What Causes Alcohol Gastritis
Alcohol Gastritis is a type of acute gastritis and is caused by excessive alcohol consumption. The sudden inflammation of the stomach lining can be very painful and cause severe stomach cramping, irritability and vomiting. While consuming too much alcohol is the main cause of Alcohol Gastritis, it often develops in connection with some sort of infection, direct irritation or localized tissue damage. It can be caused by:
- taking non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory medications like aspirin or ibuprofen .
- certain bacterial infections.
- bile reflux from proximal small intestine.
- autoimmune disorders.
While these are the chief causes of the condition, there are other activities and circumstances that can contribute to the irritation, including stress, smoking and caffeine intake. If you wait to see a doctor for alcohol gastritis symptoms and continue to drink the more likely it may lead to permanent damage to the stomach and digestive system.
Treatment Options For Chronic Abdominal Pain
Treatment depends on the cause. If a physical cause is known, treating the cause is the first step.
When a physical cause is not found, treatment focuses on helping people return to normal daily activities and minimizing discomfort. These measures include:
- Lessening stress and anxiety with medications, relaxation techniques, biofeedback, hypnosis, or other methods
- Relieving pain with medications
- High-fiber diet or fiber supplements
- Reducing muscle spasms in the digestive tract with medications or peppermint oil
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When To See A Doctor For A Urinary Tract Infection
Urinary tract infections usually require a visit to the doctor to confirm diagnosis and receive treatment. If a UTI is suspected, a doctorââ¬â¢s appointment is always recommended for the following groups of people:
- Children
- Anyone who has not had a UTI before
- Anyone with blood in their urine
- Anyone with symptoms of an upper urinary tract infection
- Anyone whose symptoms have returned after treatment
Some people who experience UTIs on a frequent basis might be offered different management options by their doctor, such as long-term, low-dose antibiotics. In these special cases, the onset of UTI symptoms may be managed at home, and a visit to the doctor is not always necessary.
In very mild cases, a bladder infection/cystitis may clear on its own without the need for medical treatment. However, other conditions such as genital herpes or vaginal thrush can be mistaken for cystitis, so people who are unsure whether they have cystitis should still see a doctor.
Feeling unwell? People experiencing symptoms that may be linked to a urinary tract infection can carry out a symptom assessment using the free Ada app now.
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Chronic Nausea Causes Of Persistent Ongoing Nauseous Feeling
The term nausea refers to a feeling of impending vomiting. However, nausea may or may not be followed by actual vomiting. There are many causes of nausea. Frequent regurgitation, lack of appetite, abdominal pain, changes in urination, changes in bowel movements, dizziness and fainting are often associated with feelings of nausea. For effective treatment, the underlying cause of nausea needs to be identified.
In some cases, the feelings of nausea are temporary, and go away on their own. However, in other cases, nausea may occur chronically or over a long period of time. In such chronic cases, the feelings of nausea may either be constant or intermittent. Constant feelings of nausea may also persist during sleep. Intermittent episodes of intense nausea may get triggered by factors such as motion, stress, hunger and intake of certain foods. Vomiting may also be triggered during these intense episodes of nausea. The nature of the trigger factors vary on a case-to-case basis.
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What Causes Mild To Moderate Abdominal Pain
Most Australians will experience mild or moderate abdominal pain from time to time. Often these episodes last only a few hours or days. They may clear up without the need for treatment. However, you may be more comfortable managing the symptoms with medicines from your pharmacy or doctor.
Some of the causes of short-term abdominal pain are:
When To Seek Medical Care For Abdominal Pain
If your abdominal pain is severe or chronic, our gastroenterology team at Digestive Disease Consultants of Orange County can help. We use sophisticated diagnostic tools and a thorough evaluation to determine the cause of your pain.
Once theres a diagnosis, we create a personalized treatment plan to manage your condition and pain levels. Our doctors make sure you understand the course of treatment and check in with you regularly to ensure your pain and other symptoms are under control.
No matter whats causing your abdominal pain, our team can help you live without discomfort. To schedule an appointment at one of our locations, in Irvine, Huntington Beach, Tustin, and Foothill Ranch, California, book online or call the location nearest you.
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Why Does My Chest Hurt 26 Causes Of Chest Pain & Tightness
CausesIn most cases, and inflammation, Heartburn is caused when acid from the stomach flows back up the esophagus and causes a burning sensation behind the ribs, Stress, Bloating anxiety can be connected to excess gas or bloating, Angina involves heart disease, oral medications and allergies, infection, or panic attacks, HIATAL HERNIA, These have strong medications to ease pain, stress and anxiety will cause or aggravate chest pain in a person who has angina.
When To See A Healthcare Provider
If you have long-term diarrhea, don’t put off seeing your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider may order blood tests or a stool sample to check for blood in the stool or an infection due to bacteria, a virus, or a parasite.
You may need a colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy, which may identify IBD or early signs of colon cancer. Even if it turns out that you have colon cancer, it is usually curable, particularly if detected early.
Signs that you should see your healthcare provider include:
- Your diarrhea has lasted for more than two weeks .
- You have persistent abdominal cramps or severe pain.
- You’re vomiting a lot.
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What Is Chronic Abdominal Pain
Chronic abdominal pain is defined as persistent or recurrent episodes of abdominal pain lasting for more than three months. The abdominal pain may be caused by a specific disease like Crohn’s disease, or be due to a functional disorder.
Functional gastrointestinal disorders are not explained by any identifiable structural or biochemical abnormalities meaning doctors don’t know what cause them. Children with functional disorders often have a normal medical work up.
Types And Causes Of Stomach Problems
There are numerous different stomach problems and each can be triggered by different cause. The treatment is determined based on the underlying cause. Therefore its important to diagnose the cause clearly.
The intensity, how it feels like, whether it comes with another symptom, or how long the symptom lasts may help doctors make the diagnosis. Unfortunately, sometime the cause is not known.
Abdominal cramps with diarrhea
One of possible answers is gastroenteritis . The abdominal cramps usually come suddenly, and followed with diarrhea. But the problem is usually harmless or even may improve on its own after a few days.
Gastroenteritis is an infection in the bowel or stomach. Many times, it is caused by getting a close contact with an individual whos infected. It may also occur due to food poisoning or consuming contaminated food.
Another possible cause is irritable bowel syndrome or IBS. This is particularly true if the problem becomes chronic or when you have repeated bouts of abdominal cramps and diarrhea.
Abdominal cramps with bloating
Most of the time, trapped wind is to blame for abdominal cramps with bloating. It is common and easy to deal with but sometime it can be embarrassing, too. It usually improves with over-the-counter such as mebeverine or buscopan.
Recurring, long-term stomach pain
Sometime urinary tract infection such as kidney infection is to blame for this symptom. But it also can be linked to long-term conditions such as:
Sudden severe stomach pain
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Urinary Tract And Bladder Infections
Urinary tract infections are most often caused by bacteria, primarily E.coli species, that colonize the urethra and bladder, causing a bladder infection or cystitis.
Symptoms include pain, pressure, and bloating in the lower abdominal area. Most infections also cause painful urination and cloudy, strong-smelling urine.
What Is Causing My Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain is pain that you feel anywhere between your chest and pelvic region and can range from a minor problem to one needing urgent attention. Dr. Indran Indrakrishnan at Gwinnett Digestive Clinic in Lawrenceville, GA, offers the latest treatments for gastrointestinal conditions.
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Signs And Symptoms Of Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain may take several different forms. In addition to how severe it is, abdominal pain can be described in the following ways:
Generalized Pain This refers to pain felt in more than half of your abdominal area, and is typical of stomach viruses, indigestion, or gas as the cause of your pain.
Localized Pain This refers to pain felt in just one area of your abdomen, and is typical of a problem with an organ like your stomach, appendix, or gallbladder as the cause of your pain.
Cramping This type of pain come and goes, or changes in its severity or perceived position in your abdomen. Cramping is rarely serious and is typical of gas, passing a stool, or menstruation as the cause of your pain.
Colicky Pain
Its important to call your doctor if your abdominal pain is so severe that you cant move without feeling more pain, or sit still in a comfortable position.
- Fever
- Nausea and vomiting that doesnt resolve
- Weight loss
- Abdomen very tender to touch
- Swollen abdomen
Can A Uti Cause Abdominal Bloat
A urinary tract infection symptoms include murky urine and pain when urinating. The bacteria Escherichia coli that cause UTI, on the other hand, can affect your abdomen, particularly your lower abdomen.
As a result, there may be pressure and pain and abdominal bloating. Bloating, in this case, might be mistaken for a dysfunctional digestive system.
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When To Make An Appointment To See Your Doctor
Schedule an appointment to see your doctor if:
- Your stomach pain doesnt go away within a couple of days.
- The pain comes back after going away.
- Symptoms like diarrhea dont go away within a couple of days.
- Youre urinating more or less often, and/or its painful.
- You have unintended weight loss.
Know your body, Dr. Kingsley says. If you start having pain that you have not had before and does not go away, you should contact your doctor to be evaluated further.
Bottom line: Trust your gut! Contact your doctor if youre concerned about lingering or unusual stomach pain.
Editor’s Note: This infographic was originally published on June 24, 2014.
Can Stomachaches Be Prevented
Not all belly pain can be prevented. But to help avoid common types of stomachaches:
- Wash your hands before eating or preparing food, and after using the bathroom.
- Don’t overeat, and try not to eat right before going to sleep.
- Drink plenty of water and eat fiber-rich foods, such as fruits and vegetables, to keep food moving through your digestive system.
- Avoid foods that have passed their expiration date or or weren’t stored properly.
- If you have a food allergy or intolerance, avoid eating foods that make you sick. If you have a food allergy, always carry two epinephrine auto-injectors, and know when you should use them.
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How Do I Get A Stomach Pain Diagnosis
Stomach pain is complex and should be assessed by a medical professional or pain specialist who will take the time to understand the pain story and perform a physical examination before setting forward a treatment plan.
Blood test are sometimes required. In some circumstances imaging tests may be required. Types of imaging tests might be X-rays, CT scan, MRI scan, or ultrasound. Sometimes endoscopy and or colonoscopy are required.
Once a stomach pain diagnosis is made, the medical professional or pain specialist will determine the best stomach pain treatment.
Book an appointment to have a Pain Specialist make a stomach pain diagnosis.
Prognosis Of Abdominal Pain
How long your abdominal pain lasts, and whether it gets better or worse, will depend on the cause of your pain and how the pain responds to any treatments.
Many forms of abdominal pain tend to respond to self-care measures or simply get better on their own, including pain caused by constipation, food allergies or intolerances, or stomach viruses.
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Causes And Risk Factors Of Abdominal Pain
While we dont usually feel the inner workings of our abdomen, pain can occur when there is a disruption of the normal functioning of an organ or area of tissue inside.
Abdominal pain can be caused by inflammation , organ distention or stretching , or loss of blood supply .
Some prescription and over-the-counter medications, as well as dietary supplements, can cause stomach pain. Medications can do this by irritating the stomach, leading to nausea, pain, and diarrhea, or by slowing digestion, leading to constipation. Be sure to check the label of any drug you take to see if abdominal pain is listed as a possible side effect.
- Lead poisoning, often from eating paint chips
- Emotional upset
Risk Factors For Developing Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract infections are a very common condition, especially in women, and account for between 1 to 3 percent of all general practice consultations.
Gender is a primary risk factor for urinary tract infections. UTIs are much more common in women than men, and it is believed that roughly half of all women will experience a UTI in their lifetime. Conversely, under the age of 50, only five to eight men out of every 10,000 report experiencing a UTI.
Although there are a number of risk factors specific to either men or women, the majority of risk factors are not gender-specific, including:
- Age. The likelihood of a UTI increases with age. Over the age of 50, incidences of UTIs increase for both genders, with less disparity between the number of cases in men and women
- Urinary catheters can cause bacteria to enter the urinary tract
- Family history of UTIs
- Urinary tract blockages and conditions which may impair urine flow, such as kidney stones, chronic constipation or abnormal urinary function/structure
- Diabetes, specifically diabetes mellitus or type two diabetes, due to high urine glucose levels increasing the risk of infection
- Poor personal hygiene may increase the presence of bacteria in the urinary area
- Reduced mobility may result in longer gaps between urinations, resulting in a higher risk of infection
- A weakened immune system reduces the bodyââ¬â¢s ability to defend against infection
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