Site of the pain
The abdomen can be divided into four quadrants: upper right, upper left, lower left and lower right quadrants. Various regions are also present such as the epigastric region (in the centre just below the rib cage), periumbilical region (around the umbilicus) and pelvic region (in the centre just above the pelvic bone).
Pain that occurs in half or more of the abdomen is called generalised pain. Generalised pain can occur with many different illnesses, most of which will go away without medical treatment. Indigestion and the stomach flu (gastroenteritis) are common problems that can cause generalised abdominal pain.
Abdominal pain in children
This is a common childhood complaint ranging from mild discomfort to a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate attention. If a child has severe or persistent abdominal pain, get medical care without delay.
In most cases, surgery will not be required, but children with such symptoms should have a thorough checkup to make sure there is not a serious underlying problem.
Symptoms
Character of the pain
Dull, burning pain relieved by antacids or food, is classical of peptic ulcer disease.
Colicky pain, pain which comes and goes in waves, is related to obstruction of a hollow part of a organ seen in renal stone obstruction of an ureter and bowel obstruction. The accompanying irritable bowel syndrome is often described as cramping.
The lower abdominal pain of an urinary tract infection is burning in nature.
Accompanying symptoms and signs
Often the importance of abdominal pain can only be determined when other symptoms are evaluated. Abdominal pain without other symptoms is usually not a serious problem.
The patient with acute cholecystitis is often jaundiced (yellow discolouration of sclera and mucous membranes) and vomits intermittently.
The ureteric colic of a passing renal stone is usually accompanied by blood in the urine.
Diarrhea and/or vomiting are frequent complaints in a patient with abdominal pain related to gastroenteritis.
Alternating constipation and diarrhea is commonly found in irritable bowel syndrome.
Constipation and eventually the absence of any bowel actions can be a feature of colonic obstruction caused by a growing tumour.
Abnormal bleeding that accompanies abdominal pain is almost always an ominous sign. Vomiting of blood can indicate the presence of a peptic ulcer whereas blood passed per rectum can be related to diverticulitis or a tumour of the colon.
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February, 2008
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