Definition
Acute abdomen is sudden and severe pain in the belly. It can be a sign of a larger problem.
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Causes
There are many causes for abdominal pain, such as:
Inflammation in the:
Health problems, such as:
- An infection or abscess
- Diarrhea
- Peptic ulcer
- Diverticulitis
- Ulcerative colitis or Crohn disease
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Hernia
- Gallstones
- Kidney stones
- Ruptured or leaking abdominal aortic aneurysm
- Cancer
Other problems such as:
- Blockage in the small or large intestine
- Lack of blood flow to the organs in the belly
In women:
- Menstrual cramps
- Endometriosis
- Uterine fibroids
- Ovarian cysts
- Pelvic inflammatory disease —inflammation around the organs in the pelvis because of an infection
- Miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy
In babies:
- Intussusception —the intestines telescope causing a block
- Volvulus —a twisting of the large intestine around itself
- Hirschsprung disease
Symptoms
The symptoms a person has will depend on the cause. Common ones are:
- Severe pain, swelling, or tenderness in the upper, middle, or lower part of the belly
- Muscles in the belly that contract without control or are very tense
- Fever
Diagnosis
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. You will be asked about your pain. A physical exam will be done. This will involve checking the pelvis and rectum.
Other tests may be:
- Blood tests
- Urine tests
- Ultrasound
- CT scan
- X-rays
- MRI scan
- Exploratory laparotomy —surgery look for problems inside the belly
Treatment
Sometimes emergency treatment is needed.
The goal of treatment is to ease pain and treat what is causing it. Choices are:
- Diet or lifestyle changes
- Medicines, such as pain relievers
- Surgery
RESOURCES
Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians https://familydoctor.org
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases https://www.niddk.nih.gov
CANADIAN RESOURCES
Canadian Association of Gastroenterology https://www.cag-acg.org
Canadian Digestive Health Foundation http://www.cdhf.ca
References
Abdominal pain (stomach pain), short-term. Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: https://familydoctor.org/symptom/abdominal-pain-stomach-pain-short-term. Accessed October 27, 2020.
Acute abdominal pain in adults—approach to the patient. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/approach-to/acute-abdominal-pain-in-adolescents-approach-to-the-patient. Accessed October 27, 2020.
Cartwright S, Knudson M. Diagnostic imaging of acute abdominal pain in adults. Am Fam Physician. 2015;91(7):452-459.
Reust CE, Williams A. Acute Abdominal Pain in Children. Am Fam Physician. 2016 May 15;93(10):830-836.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board James P. Cornell, MD
- Review Date: 09/2020
- Update Date: 10/27/2020