What cause abdominal pain?

What cause abdominal pain?

There are a variety of causes but:

• A first episode of sudden severe pain always indicates serious, life threatening disease
• If the pain is recurrent and chronic, then it is known as Recurrent Abdominal Pain

What are the danger signs?

• Recent injury to the belly
• Abrupt and very severe onset of pain
• Severe pain during pregnancy or possible pregnancy
• Pain which is continuous or progressively worsening
• Associated nausea / vomiting and fever
• Associated bloated ness or constipation
• Associated with a ‘painful to touch’ belly
• Presence of blood in vomitus or stool.

What are the serious causes of abdominal pain?

• Perforation of stomach/gut
• Appendicitis
• Ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy that occurs outside the womb)
• Twisted ovarian cyst
• Peritonitis (infection/inflammation in the abdominal cavity)
• Serious infection in the gut (e.g. Shigella bacterial infection)
• Intestinal obstruction

What should you do when you have severe abdominal pain?

• First episode of sudden severe pain always indicates serious, life threatening disease. You must see your doctor as soon as possible.
• Recurrent/Chronic abdominal pain need proper investigations and treatment. See your doctor for advice and help.