Tummy ache
Everyone is exposed to abdominal pain from time to time, which can be mild or severe, and the pain may be persistent or come and go. In some cases, abdominal pain may last for weeks, months, or years and most of the time The pain of the abdomen does not call for anxiety. The doctor can diagnose and treat it, but sometimes abdominal pain indicates a serious problem. Therefore, you should know the symptoms associated with abdominal pain, especially those that require medical assistance.
The abdomen can be divided roughly in more than one way, and this helps the doctor and the patient to know where the pain is produced, and the division on the following body:
- Pain is above and below the abdomen, and the separation between them is almost the horizontal line that passes through the sacrum.
- Pain of right abdomen, up or down.
- Left abdominal pain, up or down.
- Pelvic pain, be on the right and left sides.
Causes of abdominal pain
There are several causes of pain in the lower abdomen and some of these reasons with specific location on the right, left, or both sides, center, or pelvic area:
- Appendicitis: (Appendicitis), and the pain is centered on the right or center.
- Crohn’s disease: (Crohn’s Disease). Pain in the left or middle is a digestive disease that causes inflammation and irritation of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Conjunctivitis: (Diverticulitis). The pain is usually on the left. This disease is caused by swelling and inflammation of small bags formed by pressure on the weak areas of the colon.
- PMS , And have pain on the right or left.
- Ectopic pregnancy: (Ectopic pregnancy), and the pain is either on the right or on the left.
- Endometriosis: (Endometriosis). It is possible to have pain in any region of the lower abdomen. This disease is known as endometrial growth rather than intrauterine.
- Hernia: (Inguinal hernia). The pain is on the right, left, or on both sides, and occurs because a small portion of the small intestine is pushed to the underside of the abdomen, which is more common in men.
- Bowel obstruction: (Bowel obstruction), and the pain is on the right, center, or left.
- Kidney Infection: (Kidney infection), and the pain is either on the right or on the left.
- kidney stones: The pain is on the right, left, or both, or in the pelvic area.
- Ovulation: The pain is on the right, left, center, or pelvic area.
- Polycystic ovaries: (Ovarian cysts), and the pain is on the right or left.
- Pelvic inflammatory disease: (Pelvic inflammatory disease), and the pain is on the right, middle, left or pelvic area.
- Pregnancy: The pain is in the middle of the abdomen or in the pelvic area.
- Inflammation of the trumpet: (Salpingitis), pain is on the right or left, and inflammation of the trumpet is inflammation of the fallopian tubes (Fallopian tubes), the two channels connecting the uterus and ovaries and through which the egg moves to the uterus.
- Meningitis: (Seminal vesiculitis), and the pain is on the right, left, or both, or in the pelvic area.
- Testicular infarction: (Testicular torsion). The pain is on the right and may extend to the left. This problem occurs when the testis flaps the seminal axis leading to a lack of blood perfusion, and swelling and sudden pain in the scrotum causes pain in the abdomen.
- Herpes zoster: (Shingles), and the pain is on the right or left, causing the disease varicella-zoster virus, causing a painful rash on the body.
- Aortic aortic aneurysm: (Thoracic aortic aneurysm), and the pain is on the left or in the middle.
- cancer: Pain can be caused by cancer on the right, left, center, or pelvic area.
Sometimes the patient can not determine the location of the abdominal pain accurately. Pain is described as widespread and not in a specific location. The causes of this sensation vary, such as bloating, gas, gastroenteritis and irritable bowel syndrome. Irritable bowel disease, Ulcerative colitis, Sickle cell anemia, and others.
Diagnosis of abdominal pain
The diagnosis of abdominal pain depends on its characteristics, the physical examination of the patient, and the results of some tests. Therefore, the doctor asks the patient questions about the characteristics of the pain, such as the severity of the pain and accompanying symptoms, and the time of pain And whether it increases after eating, whether eating a particular food or lying on one side reduces its severity, and whether pain extends to other areas in the body, and whether there is another physical or psychological problem in the patient, and also ask the doctor about the patient has been an accident some time ago , And other questions. The following tests are required by the doctor:
- Laboratory tests include complete blood count (CBC), liver enzymes, pancreatic enzymes, pregnancy screening, and urine tests.
- X-ray of the abdomen.
- Ultrasonography.
- Conduct radiological studies.
- Computerized tomography.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
When to seek medical help
The patient should communicate with the doctor in the event of a severe pain that increases with the movement, or if the patient can not find a comfortable position, and if accompanied by abdominal pain with one of the following symptoms, the patient should seek medical assistance immediately:
- Fever.
- The presence of blood in the stool.
- Persistent nausea or vomiting.
- Weight loss.
- Yellowing of the skin.
- Sharp pain once touching the abdomen.
- Abdominal distension.