Abdominal Pain Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
Abdominal pain is any dull, sharp, achy, or cramps-like feeling between the chest and pelvic regions of an individual. The major organs located in the abdomen may be affected by infections and diseases leading to abdominal pain. Location of the pain within the abdomen indicates the cause and the abdominal pain treatment administered.
The pain may be focused on the upper or lower abdomen. Pain in the abdomen may be limited to a single abdomen area due to problems in a specific organ. This type of pain is known as localized pain.
You may experience a type of cramp-like abdominal pain that appears and disappears due to bloating, constipation, diarrhea, or flatulence. Colicky abdominal pain occurs suddenly and is a symptom of severe conditions like kidney stones or gallstones. This type of pain requires a visit to an urgent care near you.
Symptoms Associated with Abdominal Pain
- Fever
- Nausea or vomiting
- Abdominal cramping
- Bloating
- Constipation
- Heartburn
- Weight loss
- Muscle pain
- The pressure causing lower abdominal pain
- Pain while urinating
- Cloudy strong-smelling urine
- Burning sensation accompanied by pain
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty passing stool
Look out for the following symptoms of abdominal pain in your child:
- Diarrhea and vomiting that does not go away
- Severe pain that wakes them from sleep
- Fever
- Complains of pain in the tummy that gets worse when they move
- Pain that affects their energy
Causes of Abdominal Pain
There are several reasons you may be suffering from abdominal pain, so you should visit a walk-in clinic near you for diagnosis and treatment. Abdominal pain may be acute, chronic, or progressive. Therefore, it is important to monitor how long the pain lasts, whether it appears and disappears or when it’s steady, and what triggers it.
Some of the causes are:
- Indigestion
- Stomach flu
- Muscle pull
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Food allergies
- Heartburn
- Stomach virus
- UTI
- Appendicitis
- Hernia
- Decreased blood flow to the intestines
- Pancreas inflammation
- pneumonia
- Bile duct inflammation
- Diverticulitis
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Inflammation of the fallopian tubes
- Infected spleen
- Angina
- Gallstones
- Inflammation of the stomach lining
- Heart attack
- Cancer
- Poisoning
- Ovulation pain
- Intussusceptions
- Ulcers
When to Go to an Emergency Room for Abdominal Pain
You should go to the emergency room in Abilene when your abdominal pain is related to an accident or injury. When the pain is sudden or severe or is in the mid to lower side of the abdomen, you require emergency treatment. Take your child for immediate treatment at Express ER in Abilene if, during stomach pain, they have bloody or bright green vomit and blood in their stool. If you have the following symptoms accompanying your abdominal pain, call the ER for immediate help.
- Fever above 101° Celsius
- Bloody stool
- Bloated or extended abdomen
- Severe tenderness in the area that pains
- Swelling of the affected area
- Yellowing skin
- Persistent nausea and vomiting blood
- Irregular heartbeat
- Unexplainable weight loss
- Breathing difficulties
- Pink urine or pain while urinating
- Inability to pass stool without vomiting
During abdominal pain, there are special cases that require emergency treatment. Some of them are:
- Patients with a history of heart disease, heart attacks, or stroke
- Abdominal pain after a recent abdomen surgery or endoscopy
- If you have had gastric bypass surgery
- Patients over 45 years who have upper abdominal pain and chest tightness
- Abdominal pain that causes bleeding when pregnant
- Abdominal pain after severe abdominal trauma
Abdominal Pain Treatment
The cause of your abdominal pain will determine its treatment. Once you go to the urgent care or ER for abdominal pain, the doctor will carry out diagnostic tests based on your symptoms. Your doctor will ask questions to determine the type of pain you have, how often, where it hurts, medications taken, and possible triggers.
Medications to prevent acid reflux, lower inflammation, treat ulcers or infections will be administered after a conclusive diagnosis. Chronic abdominal pain will require implementing a long-term plan to manage the condition. Surgery may be needed to treat an inflamed, injured, or infected organ. Abdominal pain treatment for children also depends on the cause of the pain. Stomach pain that is caused by gas or constipation eases on its own. You may use some over-the-counter pain-relieving medication, use heat to ease the pain, take clear liquids, or eat foods that encourage bowel movement.