Abdominal Pain

Abdominal pain can originate from various structures within the abdomen, each potentially indicating different medical conditions. Here’s an overview of common abdominal causes of abdominal pain, categorized by the primary organ system involved:

  1. Gastrointestinal Causes:
    1. Gastritis/Gastric Ulcers: Inflammation or ulcers in the stomach lining.
    2. Gastroenteritis: Inflammation of the stomach and intestines, often due to infection.
    3. Appendicitis: Inflammation of the appendix.
    4. Meckel’s Diverticulitis
    5. Diverticulitis: Inflammation of the diverticula in the colon.
    6. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Conditions like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
    7. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): A functional gastrointestinal disorder.
    8. Bowel Obstruction: Blockage in the intestines.
    9. Hernias: Such as inguinal, umbilical, or incisional hernias.
    10. Colitis: Inflammation of the colon.
    11. Intestinal Ischemia: Reduced blood flow to the intestines.
  2. Hepatobiliary Causes:
    1. Cholecystitis: Inflammation of the gallbladder, often due to gallstones.
    2. Hepatitis: Inflammation of the liver.
    3. Liver Abscess: A collection of pus in the liver.
  3. Pancreatitic Causes:
    1. Acute Pancreatitis: This is an inflammation of the pancreas that causes sudden and severe abdominal pain, often radiating to the back. It’s commonly caused by gallstones or excessive alcohol use.
    2. Chronic Pancreatitis: Long-standing inflammation of the pancreas, often due to prolonged alcohol abuse, leading to persistent abdominal pain and sometimes leading to malabsorption and diabetes.
    3. Pancreatic Cancer: This can cause abdominal pain, typically in the upper abdomen and often radiating to the back. Pain may be more noticeable or worsen after eating or when lying down.
    4. Pancreatic Cysts: These fluid-filled sacs can cause abdominal pain if they grow large, become infected, or rupture.
    5. Pancreatic Pseudocysts: These are collections of fluid and debris typically occurring after a bout of pancreatitis. They can cause abdominal pain and fullness.
    6. Pancreatic Abscess: A rare complication of pancreatitis, causing severe abdominal pain, fever, and malaise.
    7. Pancreatic Necrosis: This is a severe complication of acute pancreatitis where parts of the pancreas die due to lack of blood flow, causing intense abdominal pain.
  4. Splenic Causes:
    1. Splenic Infarct: Blockage of blood supply causing tissue death, resulting in sharp pain in the upper left abdomen.
    2. Splenic Rupture: Often due to trauma, leading to severe, acute pain in the upper left abdomen; a medical emergency.
    3. Splenic Enlargement (Splenomegaly): Caused by various conditions, leading to discomfort or pain in the upper left abdomen.
    4. Splenic Abscess: A rare collection of pus in the spleen causing localized pain and fever.
    5. Splenic Cysts: Can cause pain if large or ruptured.
    6. Spleen Torsion: Torsion of a wandering spleen causing acute pain.
    7. Sickle Cell Crisis: In sickle cell disease, can lead to splenic sequestration and pain.
    8. Splenic Vein Thrombosis: Causes increased pressure in the spleen, leading to pain.
    9. Inflammatory Diseases: Conditions like lupus or sarcoidosis affecting the spleen, causing discomfort or pain.
  5. Genitourinary Causes:
    1. Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): Infections in the urinary system.
    2. Kidney Stones: Can cause severe pain in the flank area radiating to the abdomen.
    3. Pyelonephritis: Kidney infection.
    4. Bladder Infection or Cystitis.
  6. Reproductive System Causes (in females):
    1. Ectopic Pregnancy: A pregnancy outside the uterus can cause lower abdominal pain.
    2. Ovarian Torsion or Rupture: These conditions can cause severe abdominal pain.
    3. Ovarian Cysts: Fluid-filled sacs in or on the ovaries.
    4. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID): Infection of the female reproductive organs.
    5. Endometriosis: Endometrial tissue growing outside the uterus.
    6. Menstrual Cramps.
    7. Fibroids: Noncancerous growths in the uterus.
  7. Vascular Causes:
    1. Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA): A bulging or swelling in the abdominal aorta.
    2. Mesenteric Ischemia: Reduced blood flow to the intestines can cause abdominal pain.
  8. Other Causes:
    1. Peritonitis: Inflammation of the peritoneum, the lining of the abdominal cavity.
    2. Mesenteric Adenitis: Inflammation of lymph nodes in the mesentery, often mistaken for appendicitis in children.
  9. Functional Disorders:
    1. Functional Dyspepsia: Indigestion with no clear cause.
    2. Functional Abdominal Pain: Pain without an identifiable underlying cause.

These causes can present with varying degrees of severity, patterns, and associated symptoms. The exact nature of the pain (sharp, dull, cramping, constant, intermittent), its location (upper, lower, right, left abdomen), and associated symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, etc.) can help narrow down the potential causes. It’s important for healthcare providers to conduct a thorough evaluation, including medical history, physical examination, and appropriate diagnostic tests, to determine the specific cause of abdominal pain and provide the right treatment.