Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain, like pain in any part of the body may be looked upon as a safety device as it warns the sufferer of something going wrong.
Abdominal pain is common. Episodes often stem from overeating or eating too much of a certain type of food. Sometimes a viral or bacterial infection is responsible. In other cases, the pain may be an early warning sign of something more serious.
The most common causes are a urinary system disorder such as a bladder or kidney problem, a bowel problem or a condition involving the reproductive system - the uterus, Fallopian tubes and ovaries.
Types of abdominal pain
1. Superficial pain which is felt in tissue beneath the skin.
2. Deep pain which originates from the spine, big blood vessels and muscles.
3. Organ pain which is due to distention, obstruction within organs of the abdomen.
4. Referred pain which is a pain which has its origin somewhere else e.g. the chest but felt in the abdomen area.
5. Conditioned pain-This is a nagging pain which persists long after a trauma to an abdominal organ has healed.
6. Psychological pain which has no physical or organic basis.
Causes of Abdominal Pain
Possible causes of Abdominal Pain include:
- Excessive gas
- Chronic constipation
- Lactose intolerance (milk intolerance)
- Viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu)
- Irritable bowel syndrome (sensitive stomach with intermittent episodes of diarrhea and constipation)
- Heartburn or indigestion
- Gastroesophageal reflux
- Ulcers
- Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder) with or without gallstones
- Appendicitis (inflammation of the appendix)
-
Food allergy
- Food poisoning (salmonella, shigella)
- Hernia
- Kidney stones
- Urinary tract infections
- Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
-
Dissecting abdominal aortic aneurysm -- bleeding into the wall of the aorta
- Parasite infections (Giardia)
- Sickle cell crisis
Mechanism of pain originating in abdomen
1. Pain arising in the abdominal wall e.g. trauma, muscular strain, viral infection of nerves from spinal cord.
2. Inflammation of peritoneum e.g. bacterial and chemical contamination e.g. perforated appendix, inflammation of pancreas.
3. Obstruction of hollow organs:
a. Obstruction of small or large intestines.
b. Obstruction of bile duct.
c. Obstruction of the ureters.
4. Vascular disturbances e.g. blood vessel rupture, thrombosis of arteries.
There are many organs in the abdomen. Pain in the abdomen can originate from any one of them, including:
- Organs related to digestion -- the stomach, the end of the esophagus, the small and large intestines, the liver, the gallbladder, and the pancreas.
- The aorta -- a large blood vessel that runs straight down the inside of the abdomen.
- The appendix -- an organ in the lower right abdomen that no longer serves much function.
- The kidneys -- two bean shaped organs that lie deep within the abdominal cavity.
However, the pain may originate from somewhere else -- like your chest or pelvic region. You may also have a generalized infection affecting many parts of your body, like the flu or strep throat.
Causes of pain in Abdomen originating elsewhere
1. Thorax e.g. pneumonia, heart attack.
2. Spine e.g. compression of nerves from spinal cord.
3. Genitalia e.g. testicular torsion.
4. Poisoning e.g. lead, black widow spider bite.
Character of pain in abdomen
1. Colicky e.g. obstruction of hollow organs such as intestines, ureters.
2. Spasmodic e.g. intestine muscles become tense. Here pain is rhythmically intermittent with brief periods of intense pain followed by periods of remission.
3. Aching pain e.g. pain arising from the abdominal wall.
4. Lancinating pain e.g. pain arising from the spinal nerves and disappearing suddenly, due to Herpes virus, impingement by arthritis, prolapse inter vertebral disc, diabetes.
Management
1. Patient is made to rest and breathe gently through his open mouth in order that his abdominal muscles are as relaxed as possible.
2. Seek medical advice immediately.
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