Pain in the abdominal area.
Diagnosis
Many different conditions can cause abdominal pain. The key is to know when to seek medical care. Any of the following may cause abdominal pain:
- Appendicitis
- Bowel obstruction
- Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder) with or without gallstones
- Chronic constipation
- Dissecting abdominal aortic aneurysm
- Diverticular disease, including diverticulitis
- Early-stage shingles (a viral infection where pain begins before the appearance of a rash)
- Excessive gas
- Food allergy
- Food poisoning (salmonella, shigella)
- Gastroesophageal reflux
- Heartburn or indigestion
- Hernia
- Infectious mononucleosis
- Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis)
- Intussusception (While uncommon, this is a serious possible cause of pain in an infant who may be bringing the knees to the chest and crying.)
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Kidney stones
- Lactose intolerance
- Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
- Parasitic infections (Giardia)
- Sickle cell crisis
- Spinal fracture
- Ulcers
- Urinary tract infections
- Viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu)
Diagnostic tests may include:
- Barium enema
- Upper gastrointestinal (GI) and small bowel series
- Blood, urine and stool tests
- Endoscopy of upper GI tract (esophagogastroduodenoscopy, or EGD)
- Ultrasound of the abdomen
- X-rays of the abdomen
In infants, prolonged unexplained crying (often called colic) may be caused by abdominal pain that may end with the passage of gas or stool. Colic is often worse in the evening. Cuddling and rocking the child may bring some relief.
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