| Abdominal pain can be classified by onset, type, and | | | | localized to the right or to the left lower abdomen. |
| location: the onset of pain can be either sudden or | | | | There is no vomiting, diarrhea, or fever. The pain |
| gradual; the type of pain can be either constant or | | | | usually passes in a day or two. |
| crampy; the location can be either localized or diffuse. | | | | Question: What are the more serious causes of |
| Using a thermometer, check anyone suffering from | | | | abdominal pain? |
| abdominal pain for a fever. | | | | Sudden sharp pain that comes in waves (a condition |
| Question: What are minor causes of abdominal pain? | | | | known medically as colic) may be accompanied by |
| Indigestion is the most common cause of abdominal | | | | vomiting, sweating, and the need to double up. Colic |
| distress in both adults and children. Indigestion results | | | | can be caused by several potentially serious |
| from eating too much or eating unsuitable food. It is | | | | disorders, such as intestinal obstruction; stones in the |
| often accompanied by heartburn, belching, and a | | | | gall bladder system (biliary colic); or stones in the |
| sensation of fullness or nausea. In most cases, | | | | kidney system (renal colic). |
| indigestion ceases gradually and within a few hours. | | | | Continuous pain, together with slight fever, |
| Antacids may help. Indigestion does not trigger a | | | | tenderness of the abdomen when touched, and |
| fever. | | | | sometimes vomiting may be caused by inflammation |
| Gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the lining of the | | | | of the appendix (appendicitis), colon (colitis), colon |
| stomach and intestinal tract. It is another common | | | | pouches (diverticulitis), or gall bladder (cholecystitis). |
| cause of abdominal pain. It can be caused by food | | | | An inflamed pancreas (pancreatitis) causes continuous |
| poisoning, food allergies, or infections, for example, | | | | pain, vomiting, and tenderness to the touch. An |
| "stomach flu." The pain is crampy, diffuse, and may | | | | inflamed fallopian tube (salpingitis) causes continuous |
| come on suddenly. There is nausea, vomiting, and | | | | pain, lower abdominal pain, fever, and tenderness to |
| diarrhea. If the cause is infectious, there may be a | | | | the touch. |
| fever. | | | | Continuous pain that comes on suddenly, producing |
| Constipation is a difficulty in emptying the bowels. | | | | tenderness of the abdomen when touched, may be |
| The pain is often sudden and may be either constant | | | | caused by a perforated ulcer, an ectopic (tubal) |
| or crampy. Although the pain is usually diffuse, it can | | | | pregnancy, or a leaking abdominal, aortic aneurysm. |
| be localized to the left side of the abdomen. | | | | An abdominal aneurysm may also cause pain in the |
| Constipation does not cause a fever. The pain is | | | | back. |
| relieved by either passing gas and/or stool. | | | | Question: What other disorders include abdominal pain |
| Irritable colon, which is also known as spastic colon or | | | | as a symptom? |
| mucous colitis, is a disturbance of large intestine | | | | Abdominal pain with backache and frequent, painful |
| function. The condition is made worse by periods of | | | | passing of urine suggests inflammation of the kidney |
| emotional stress. The pain is crampy. There can be | | | | (pyelonephritis) or of the bladder (cystitis). There |
| either constipation, diarrhea, or mucous stools, as well | | | | may also be a fever. Recurrent abdominal pain may |
| as a loss of appetite. A fever is not a symptom. | | | | be caused by a peptic ulcer. Abdominal pain is also a |
| Menstrual cramps or painful menstrual periods | | | | symptom of inflammation of the stomach lining |
| (dysmenorrhea) are experienced by many women. | | | | (gastritis) or an inflammation of the liver (hepatitis). |
| Pain at ovulation or mittelschmerz (middle pain) occurs | | | | Question: Are children especially subject to abdominal |
| midway between periods. It can be severe; it is | | | | pain? |