Abdominal pain- one of the most common reasons for visiting doctors. Unpleasant and painful sensations can overtake each of us. And if in some cases the pain subsides after a short time and does not return, then sometimes attacks of pain become unbearable and require urgent attention to a gastroenterologist. Let's look at the reasons for the appearance of pain in the abdominal area and our subsequent actions.

Why does my stomach hurt?

There are two main types of abdominal pain: visceral and parietal.

The cause of visceral pain is irritation of the nerve endings in the walls of the internal organs, caused by their stretching or spasm. Such pain is also called colic, and its intensity is variable. However, it is often difficult to determine where the source of pain is located.

Parietal pain occurs due to irritation of the abdominal wall. This happens, for example, when a stomach ulcer is perforated. In this case, the abdominal muscles become significantly tense. Such pain, most often sharp and cutting, has a clearly defined center and is constant.

Based on duration, abdominal pain is divided into chronic and acute. And if chronic ones can last a long time, then acute ones can last from several minutes to several hours. Acute pain indicates a sharp deterioration in health caused by various reasons. For example, this is how acute pancreatitis, cholecystitis and ulcers manifest themselves.

Where does it hurt?

Abdominal pain is divided into those that have a pronounced focus, and those that spread to large areas of the body. The possible cause of pain can be determined by its nature and location of the epicenter:

• Pain between navel and solar plexus. Occurs with diseases of the stomach (gastritis, ulcers, etc.), cholecystitis, inflammation of the duodenum or pancreas.
• Pain around and in the navel area. Often caused by intestinal disorder or inflammation of the appendix. The latter requires immediate hospitalization of the patient due to a direct threat to life.
• Pain below the navel. This is how problems with the intestines and, most often, with the rectum manifest themselves. In women, it can signal diseases of the genitourinary system. Pain of this localization also occurs during menstruation or pregnancy. In men, this is how diseases of the urinary system manifest themselves.
• Significant pain in the right upper abdomen indicates inflammation of the gallbladder. These are symptoms of inflammation of the pancreas and duodenum. With all these diseases, the pain can shift to the middle of the abdomen and even to the back.
• When there is pain in the left side of the abdomen, the stomach, pancreas or large intestine is not functioning normally.
• Pain in the lower right and left abdomen is a reason to examine the colon and rectum, respectively.

What to do if your stomach hurts

Regardless of the nature of the pain and the location of its source, if the pain appears regularly and continues for a considerable time or is acute, you should immediately seek help from a doctor. If you are in St. Petersburg, then you can always come for a consultation at our clinic. Experienced doctors, using modern equipment, will accurately determine the cause of abdominal pain and prescribe effective treatment.

What not to do for abdominal pain

There is a clear list of what you should never do if you have abdominal pain:

• You should not apply a hot heating pad to the source of pain or to your stomach in general, or try to warm up the sore spot in any other way. To alleviate the condition, try applying something cold on the contrary.
• Until the cause of the pain is determined and a doctor is consulted, you should not take painkillers. By taking them, you can change the symptoms of the disease in such a way that it will be impossible to make an accurate diagnosis of the gastrointestinal tract condition.
• Under no circumstances should acute or prolonged pain be tolerated, especially if it is accompanied by fever, prolonged (more than 2-3 times) vomiting, loss of consciousness, the presence of blood in the vomit, or the appearance of bloody stools. If any alarming symptom appears, you should immediately seek help from a doctor.

Remember that with the help of pain, the body signals us about the emergence of some kind of problem. The sooner the disease is identified and appropriate treatment is started, the faster a complete recovery can be achieved and possible complications can be avoided. The doctors of our clinic in St. Petersburg will always help you with this.

Abdominal pain is the most common type of pain not only in adults, but also in children. The causes of the appearance can be a variety of factors, ranging from diseases of organs localized directly in the abdomen to inflammatory processes in other internal organs. It is very important to distinguish the nature of spasms during illnesses from pain arising due to simple overeating. In the first case, the person will be bothered by nausea and dizziness, diarrhea and weakness, pain below or above the navel, and in the second case, a dull girdle pain.

Cases where spasms last less than a minute are not a cause for concern, but you should consult a doctor for preventive purposes. It is quite normal to experience abdominal pain in the early stages of pregnancy (at a later stage it can mean impending birth). A child often develops such a disorder due to excitement before visiting an educational institution - the occurrence of discomfort is caused by the influence of the nervous system on the gastrointestinal tract.

Girdle pain in the abdomen often occurs during the first menstruation in girls. The location of intense pain can also tell a lot not only to the person, but also to the doctor during diagnosis. For example, pain below the navel and right side of the abdomen means that inflammation begins - but if it becomes sharp and unbearable, a rupture of the intestinal appendix has probably occurred. Pain to the left and above the navel - neoplasms in the colon.

Despite the wide range of diseases and processes that influence the occurrence of spasms, they all manifest themselves with almost the same symptoms. Diarrhea, often mixed with blood, or general weakness of the body may be added to the clinical picture. It is worth noting that the intensity of pain may vary.

Etiology

Abdominal pain occurs when there is inflammation or damage to internal organs. Discomfort is expressed as a result of exacerbation of their course. Such disorders include:

• inflammation of appendicitis - for such a disease there are several characteristic signs of manifestation, the main of which is nausea and incessant sharp pain that occurs in a certain place - on the right side of the abdomen and below the navel. Every adult and child can be susceptible to this disorder. Children most often experience a strong increase in temperature up to 39 degrees and dizziness;
• inflammatory process in the pancreas - accompanied by similar symptoms as with appendicitis, but additional symptoms also appear, such as diarrhea and spreading pain to the shoulders and shoulder blades. Abdominal cramps are of a girdling nature;
• with an acute course - expressed by nausea, a sharp aversion to food and diarrhea;
• infectious or allergic disorders of the kidneys - frequent urge to urinate, dizziness, change in the color and consistency of urine, body temperature above normal, girdling spasms;
• infections in the respiratory tract or inflammation of the tonsils in a child;
• And . Symptoms, such as girdle pain, nausea, and bloody diarrhea, may come and go intermittently;
• formation - accompanied by fever, as well as cramps throughout the abdominal area, but more often above the navel;
• malignant neoplasms in the gastrointestinal tract;
• hernia - in this case the pain will be expressed on the left side and below the navel;
• rupture of some internal organs, including the spleen, liver or ovaries;
• insufficient blood supply to the abdominal organs.

A group of disorders that are accompanied by abdominal pain:

• severe in a child - with this illness, girdling pain occurs throughout the entire abdomen, but is aggravated in the navel area;
• in the digestive tract;
• lactose deficiency.

In addition, there are a number of factors that have nothing to do with pathogenic processes in internal organs:

Basically, the last group of reasons causes constant aching pain in the abdomen.

Varieties

According to the place of manifestation of the most intense sensations, pain can be:

• girdle pain throughout the abdominal area;
• appearing above the pubis - female problems with the organs of the reproductive system. The spasms may not be intense, but in some cases they become cutting;
• localized above or below the navel - diseases of the small intestine, inflammation of the appendix or hernia. The occurrence of pain in the navel area during pregnancy is usually caused by the growth of the fetus;
• spreading to the back and groin - pathology of the urinary system;
• pain in the abdomen on the right - indicates problems with the liver, gall bladder;
• arising on the left side - pancreatitis or peptic ulcer.

In addition, the nature of the pain can also tell a lot:

• sharp - sharp or;
• cutting - ulcer, ectopic pregnancy;
• stupid - education. Along with nausea, it indicates early pregnancy;
• shingles - oncological neoplasms, kidney pathologies, chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Whatever type of pain occurs, it is necessary to consult a specialist as soon as possible for a full diagnosis and effective treatment.

Symptoms

Despite the fact that abdominal pain can be caused by a wide variety of factors, they will manifest themselves in approximately the same way - only the degree of intensity of the accompanying symptoms will differ. The main symptoms are:

• an increase in body temperature - in an adult it will be observed only in certain diseases, mainly acute, and in a child in all disorders;
• attacks of severe dizziness and migraines;
• followed by diarrhea and vice versa;
• decreased or complete lack of appetite;
• change in color of stool and urine;
• spread of pain to the lower back, shoulders, above and below the navel;
• nausea and vomiting (in some diseases with blood impurities);
• increase in abdominal volume;
• frequent urge to urinate;
• the skin becomes pale;
• general weakness of the patient’s body;
• sour belching;
• abdominal muscle tension;
• rapid heartbeat;
• uncomfortable body position that the patient takes to reduce the intensity of spasms.

If an adult or child exhibits one or more of the above symptoms, it is necessary to immediately call an ambulance, because without timely medical intervention, most diseases can lead to complications and even death.

The appearance of abdominal pain during pregnancy should not be a cause for concern if it occurs rarely, does not cause discomfort and goes away quickly. In addition, attacks of nausea and abdominal pain are the first signs that a female is about to become a mother. But if the pain is sharp and does not go away for a long time, this may indicate a threat of miscarriage. Symptoms of menstruation, especially if they appear in a girl for the first time in her life, can include severe dizziness, even loss of consciousness, difficulty breathing, girdle pain that often radiates to the back, and a slight increase in body temperature.

Diagnostics

In cases where abdominal pain does not manifest itself very intensely, a person can independently recognize a possible factor in the occurrence of this sensation. To do this you need:

• take a horizontal position, lying on your back, and relax;
• try to determine where the pain is most severe. This is especially important to do for diagnosis, because different localization, for example, below or above the navel, on the right or left side, is inherent in certain diseases. To do this, you need to carefully probe the entire abdominal area with your fingers;
• make an attempt to describe the nature of the pain. It can be sharp, sharp, dull, aching, cutting or encircling;
• determine what signs are accompanied by spasms - nausea, diarrhea, often followed by constipation, increased temperature, severe weakness and attacks of dizziness. Monitor the increase in their intensity when moving or coughing;
• try to remember what caused these unpleasant sensations. Were these diseases that occurred previously, menstruation, severe stress or physical activity, food intake. Pain is often triggered by early pregnancy.

These activities can be carried out by adults independently. If a child shows pain, the measures are carried out by his parents.

After receiving the results of all tests, the doctor can make several decisions regarding the patient:

• urgent hospitalization - in cases of ruptured appendicitis, peptic ulcer, formation of stones or tumors, as well as in case of ectopic pregnancy;
• planned treatment in a hospital - mainly for disorders not directly related to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• home treatment and monitoring of the patient - if a person seeks help at the very initial stage of symptoms, as well as in the case of menstruation or pregnancy (in the early stages).

When the patient is a child, his treatment is carried out only in a hospital setting.

Treatment

The main therapy for abdominal pain is to eliminate the underlying disease. But this can only be done in a medical facility. Therefore, until the ambulance arrives, it is necessary to ensure complete rest for the victim, especially the child, and under no circumstances allow him to eat. You can only drink cold, purified water. Painkillers should not be used. Once the patient is taken to the hospital and diagnosed, there are several possible treatment options:

• immediate operation - especially if appendicitis ruptures, since purulent fluid can spread throughout the body, causing blood poisoning and death of the patient. In addition, operations are prescribed for hernia, oncological tumors and ulcers, as well as for acute symptoms in a child, in particular, such as diarrhea with blood, a critical increase in body temperature, rapid heartbeat;
• inpatient treatment - involves reducing the intensity of symptoms (for example, weakness, dizziness or persistent nausea) with various medications, the selection of which depends on the underlying disease. In addition, a woman needs to spend several days in a clinical setting if pain occurs during pregnancy, especially in the early stages.

If pain occurs in the lower abdomen during menstruation, girls and women are prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and drugs that reduce the intensity of cramps. In some cases, a special diet can help relieve pain during menstruation; you just need to give up alcoholic beverages and smoking, as well as fatty and spicy foods for a few days. But in cases where such methods do not alleviate the condition, and the pain during menstruation only intensifies, and additional symptoms appear, such as spasms above the navel and an increase in body temperature, it is necessary to consult a doctor.

But these are only general methods of therapy; treatment is prescribed individually for each patient, depending on the intensity of pain and its location.

Pain that appears near the navel and moves to the lower right part of the abdominal cavity may indicate appendicitis - inflammation of the appendix (intestinal appendage). In most serious cases, surgery will be required to remove the appendix. With advanced appendicitis, the appendix may rupture. If you experience severe pain or tenderness in the right lower abdomen, abdominal pain when walking, nausea, vomiting or loss of appetite, or fever, you should consult your doctor immediately.

Pain in the lower left peritoneum can be a symptom of diverticulitis. Diverticulitis occurs when small ball-shaped capsules called diverticula form in the walls of the colon, which subsequently become infected and inflamed. Other symptoms of diverticulitis include fever, nausea, vomiting, chills, cramps and constipation. Treatment for diverticulitis usually involves clearing the colon of infection and inflammation. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics and/or pain medications, a liquid diet, and bed rest for several days. In some cases, treatment for diverticulitis requires a hospital stay. If complications occur, surgery may be necessary.

The best means of prevention is a diet rich in fiber. Dietary fiber promotes proper digestion and relieves pressure in the colon. Gradually increase the amount of fiber in your daily diet and drink plenty of fluids. Emptying your bowels on time will also help prevent diverticulitis. The accumulation of waste from the digestive system causes an increase in pressure in the colon.

Acute pain in the right hypochondrium, intensifying after eating, indicates the presence of gallbladder damage. Gallbladder diseases include stones and inflammation of the gallbladder(cholecystitis). If complications occur, gallbladder damage may have other symptoms, along with abdominal pain. These include: jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes), severe fever and chills. Sometimes people with it experience no symptoms at all. If you experience regular pain in the right hypochondrium, you should consult a doctor.

Gallbladder pain can be managed in a number of ways, ranging from simply waiting it out (watching symptoms for a while and not getting any treatment) to taking medications and even surgery. You can also reduce the symptoms of gallbladder disease by reducing the amount of fat in your diet.

Abdominal pain relieved by bowel movements and accompanied by diarrhea or constipation may indicate a common gastrointestinal disorder, the cause of which is not yet known. When irritable bowel syndrome occurs, the intestinal walls contract either too much or too little, sometimes too slowly, sometimes too quickly. Symptoms of this disease include: bloating, increased gas production, slimy stools, and a constant desire to empty the bowels.

This syndrome cannot be treated with surgery or medications. However, worsening of the condition can be prevented by drinking plenty of water, increasing the amount of fiber in your diet, reducing the amount of caffeine you consume and increasing exercise.

Sharp, burning pain in the upper and middle abdomen (between the breastbone and belly button) may indicate the presence of an ulcer. An ulcer is a wound that forms in the tissue of the stomach or upper intestine. There are many causes of ulcers. Smoking, taking ibuprofen or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may play a role. An ulcer can also form if the stomach is unable to protect itself from strong stomach acids.

Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium that lives in the stomach, can also cause ulcers. Stress and spicy foods cannot cause ulcers. Heartburn alone cannot indicate this disease. Severe pain like heartburn can also be caused by the less serious condition gastroesophageal reflux disease.

In women, abdominal pain may indicate problems with the reproductive system. Pelvic pain that occurs every month before menstruation may indicate endometriosis, a condition in which particles of tissue from the uterus move through the fallopian tubes and land on the ovaries, pelvis, bladder and other organs. Tenderness in the lower abdomen may indicate pelvic inflammatory disease (infection of the uterine tissue, fallopian tubes, or ovaries).

In women of childbearing age, ectopic pregnancy can also cause sharp, sharp or stabbing pain in the peritoneum, accompanied by vaginal bleeding, irregular menstrual cycles and pain radiating to the shoulders. Ovarian cysts and uterine fibroids can also cause abdominal pain in women.

Other cases of abdominal pain include: urinary tract infections, food poisoning and allergies, hernia, and lactose intolerance.

Causes of abdominal pain

In most cases, pain in the abdominal area is caused by quite ordinary reasons, for example, emotional disorders, overeating or the flu. However, similar painful symptoms can be caused by more severe diseases. Only a doctor can clearly determine the cause of pain.

Symptoms

If you experience mild pain that appears sporadically for less than 4 weeks, you can try to cope with the problem yourself.

Urgent medical attention is required for the following conditions:

• pain accompanied by fever, jaundice, dark urine, severe nausea or vomiting, light pasty stools;
• sharp sharp stabbing pain in the abdominal cavity, accompanied by vaginal bleeding, irregular menstrual cycle, pain radiating to the shoulders;
• severe constant pain in the peritoneum after injury;
• sudden, very severe pain lasting more than 2 hours.

Urgent hospitalization is required if the following signs appear:

• abdominal pain accompanied by sudden, bright red rectal bleeding or vomiting of blood or a substance that looks like coffee grounds;
• dizziness, delirium, rapid pulse, cold clammy skin.

What can you do for stomach pain?

Mild pain not associated with ulcers, diverticulitis, or gallbladder disease can be treated at home. You should give your body enough time to rest. To ease the pain, take simple painkillers or antispasmodics (paracetamol). Do not use acetylsalicylic acid or other anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen. Avoid alcohol and caffeine.

The treatment method will depend on the cause of abdominal pain.

“Life” and “belly” were denoted by one word among the ancient Slavs. And this had its own logic: everything that is most important for life is really stored in the stomach... Not counting, perhaps, the brains: they would not have withstood the load that usually falls on the digestive system.

The Slavs (as well as other peoples living in our climate) love to eat. They always loved it and, by and large, they were right: they had to work hard and a lot, and additional calories and protective layers of fat were also required to heat their own body. Therefore, abundant nutrition was perhaps the main condition for survival.

But if in ancient times this healthy appetite was somehow restrained by the zone of risky agriculture, taxes, dues and raids of nomads, then in the modern world the load on the stomach has increased significantly. A healthy appetite remains, but there are no restraining factors (well, except conscience).

So there is nothing strange if every day in some place in the abdomen something gurgles, bursts and hurts from overload. And it’s not a fact that it’s the digestive organ that hurts. Someone out there is giving signals, trying to remind you that, Without sparing your belly, you are literally risking your life. Marina Yakusheva, a general practitioner at the Semeynaya medical clinic network, helped us decipher these messages.

Pain in the pit of the stomach, at the very top in the center (1)

How do you feel: stabbing, cutting acute pain, sometimes radiating to the chest area. She is accompanied by a feeling of fullness in the abdomen and flatulence.

Most likely it is gastritis. Unless, of course, you rule out the possibility that someone punched you in the gut. The most common cause of the disease is Helicobacter pylori microorganisms. They torment the gastric mucosa worse than hot peppers or alcohol (by the way, they are also gastritis provocateurs).

Stress hormones stimulate excessive release of hydrochloric acid in the stomach - and here is another factor for the development of inflammation. That’s why there is a belief among people that “ulcers come from nerves.” With severe and prolonged pain, one can indeed suspect not just gastritis, but a stomach or duodenal ulcer.

By the way, There are two types of gastritis:

• Hyperacid occurs with increased acidity, everything is clear with it: the acid irritates the walls of the stomach, and inflammation results.
• It still happens hypoacid. The fact is that a low level of acidity, firstly, contributes to the prosperity of Helicobacter pylori bacteria, and secondly, does not ensure normal digestion of food, allowing it to rot.

Is it true, the same pain and accompanying symptoms can be caused by myocardial infarction, which is often disguised as “something with the belly.” If the pain also radiates to your left arm, call an ambulance immediately!

Another option is appendicitis. It often begins with a vague pain in the pit of the stomach, and only then the pain signal moves to the right side and becomes very distinct. This is why it is usually not recommended to take painkillers for abdominal discomfort: this will complicate the diagnosis. Maybe an ambulance after all?

What to do?

Well, if there was no emergency hospitalization, still make an appointment with a gastroenterologist or therapist as soon as possible. And do not refuse gastroscopy: only this procedure will allow you to make a clear diagnosis and prescribe treatment.

Read also How to stop overeating: changing your eating habits

Right hypochondrium hurts (2)

How do you feel: sharp, acute pain that occurs suddenly, accompanied by a feeling of heaviness, nausea, vomiting, and bloating. Gives to the right shoulder. Lasts for an hour.

Most likely, you have biliary (liver) colic. The reason for this is stones that lead to stagnation of bile. An attack can be triggered by severe stress, a festive feast (spicy, fatty, alcoholic), a long car ride on a bumpy road, and a bent over position (during cleaning floors, sex, or stretching exercises).

But, again, maybe it’s a myocardial infarction, especially if you have cardiovascular pathologies.

What to do?

Call a doctor, do not refuse hospitalization (doctors will most likely insist on it). You need to be examined by a surgeon, gastroenterologist, or urologist. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are taking birth control pills - they may cause another attack.

Eliminate fatty, salty foods and baked goods from your diet. Don't eat for 12 hours after an attack. Try to control your weight - if you have extra pounds, start getting rid of them.

Read also Liver: why it is important to know how it works

How do you feel: noticeable discomfort or dull pain, loss of appetite.

Most likely, this is biliary dyskinesia. That is, a violation of their motor skills. Because of this, problems arise with the flow of bile into the duodenum, as a result of which the entire digestion process is disrupted (primarily the digestion of fats).

Less likely, but also maybe acute hepatitis A or B, exacerbation of chronic hepatitis C, or even cirrhosis of the liver. It is especially worth thinking about this if one of the symptoms is light-colored stools.

What to do?

Immediately contact a hepatologist and gastroenterologist. Even if the most terrible suspicions are not confirmed, you are still strictly forbidden to overeat (even on major holidays), the diet should be fractional: five to six times a day, in small portions, without fatty, smoked and spicy foods. And, of course, without alcohol.

Right side hurts at waist level (3)

How do you feel: severe cutting pain radiating to the lower abdomen and genital area. It has a wave-like flow, then fades, then intensifies.

Most likely, you have renal colic. The reason for this may be urolithiasis, kinking of the ureter, inflammation. Be careful when trying to lose weight. Excessive thinness is one of the provocateurs of kidney prolapse in nulliparous women. There is a lack of retroperitoneal fat, which helps the organs stay in place.

Similar symptoms include inflammation of the ovaries (adnexitis), osteochondrosis (especially if the pain radiates to the lower back) and appendicitis.

What to do?

If you have already encountered a similar situation, then take a painkiller or a drug that relieves spasms. Be sure to schedule a visit to the urologist the next day.

Is the pain new? Gritting your teeth, without taking medications, wait for the ambulance to arrive. To make an accurate diagnosis, make an appointment with a gynecologist, neurologist and surgeon.

Read also Kidney stones: how do you know if you have them?

Left hypochondrium hurts (4)

How do you feel: aching pain that increases in intensity over time. Sometimes it seems to encircle the body. She is accompanied by nausea, dyspepsia, and bloating. It gets especially bad after eating fatty foods or strong alcohol.

Most likely, this is pancreatitis - acute or chronic. The pancreas suffers. The outflow of juices containing digestive enzymes is disrupted. They begin to affect not the food, but the organ itself, leading to its destruction.

In the worst case, this is bleeding from a stomach and/or duodenal ulcer.

What to do?

Start sticking to a diet. Eat small meals five to six times a day. Alcohol is strictly prohibited, no butter or rich broths. If the symptoms increase quickly, getting worse every minute, call an ambulance, you need emergency help from a surgeon.

The very middle of the abdomen hurts (5)

How do you feel: flatulence, bloating, churning in the stomach, short-term aching pain.

Most likely, you overate. The stomach, liver, intestines and pancreas simply could not cope with the loaded volume - and now gases move through the intestines, causing discomfort.

Other options: dysbiosis (wait if you were sick and took antibiotics) or lactase deficiency (pay attention to whether the symptoms described are related to the consumption of dairy products).

What to do?

Go to the nearest pharmacy and buy drugs that eliminate flatulence and enzymes that help digestion.

Abdominal pain is a vague and at the same time common symptom, with complaints from both adults and very young patients. Such pains are varied in nature and can be harbingers of very unpleasant diseases for which immediate hospitalization is indicated. Sometimes it is very difficult for patients to describe them unambiguously.

Most people have heard the expression “sharp stomach” at least once in their lives. Acute abdominal pain most often indicates appendicitis or about colic– bile, liver, kidney.

In older people, especially those who have recently had a heart attack, or those diagnosed with arrhythmia or atherosclerosis, there is a fairly high probability of developing circulatory disorders in the intestines (appear).

Such acute pains are divided into two broad categories - they can be constant or paroxysmal.

Paroxysmal pain characterized by a gradual increase followed by disappearance. Such pain is also called colic. They are caused by spasms of the smooth muscles of hollow internal organs. With colic, patients often change their body position.

Constant pain characterized by their limitations, i.e. they are localized directly above the damaged internal organ. They almost always increase noticeably with palpation, movement or coughing. Severe muscle tension is also noted. Then the patients try to lie motionless.

In the case of such pain, it is very important to determine the presence/absence of peritonitis or acute intestinal obstruction, which can cause shock of varying degrees of intensity and directly threaten a person’s life.

Sudden severe pain

This type of pain can be aggravated by vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, fever and chills. These symptoms may indicate intestinal infection or food poisoning.

Poisoning or infection develops quite quickly, usually within a few hours after a person has eaten low-quality food. Such conditions can be aggravated by:

• severe nausea or vomiting;
• watery diarrhea;
• general weakness;
• pain of a torsional nature in the peri-umbilical area.

Pain with bloody diarrhea

Such pain can differ in varying degrees of intensity and is observed in very serious intestinal diseases - salmonellosis or dysentery. In other cases, it may be ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. Additional symptoms may indicate the latter disease:

• frequent diarrhea with blood clots;
• temperature jumps up to 38°C and above;
• pain of a periodic nature, objectively not related to the consumption of spoiled food.

Abdominal pain after eating

Very often, such pains are of a pronounced cutting nature and differ in varying degrees of intensity. They disappear after defecation and may alternate with diarrhea or constipation. In this case it can be diagnosed irritable bowel syndrome, a fairly common illness. It is not usually classified as a dangerous disease, but it significantly reduces people’s quality of life.

With this syndrome, there is a change in the composition of the intestinal microflora due to stress, consumption of a number of foods, or hereditary predisposition. Additional characteristic features may include:

• body temperature does not rise above 37-37.5°C;
• stool is always without blood clots;
• no vomiting is observed;
• attacks of pain are not directly related to eating food or consuming any specific food group.

Pain in the upper abdomen

These pains, as well as the accompanying heartburn, may indicate gastroesophageal reflux. These very common diseases are also characterized by:

• sharp or dull pain in the upper abdomen or back;
• sharp pain in the left hypochondrium;
• loss of appetite;
• a feeling of discomfort in the abdomen, which patients interpret as pain, a feeling of fullness in the stomach.

Night and hunger pains

Such pain is observed with ulcers or even stomach cancer. A stomach or duodenal ulcer makes itself felt:

• burning pain in the left side and/or upper part of the stomach;
• pain that occurs on an empty stomach and disappears after eating;
• pain that gets worse at night;

Additional symptoms indicating an ulcer often include:

• vomiting or nausea after eating;
• frequent attacks of heartburn;
• feeling of quick satiety even after a small amount of food;
• feeling of discomfort in the upper part of the stomach;
• feeling .

In the future, the nature of such pain may change. They may become longer lasting, duller and no longer associated with food intake.

Shingles pain

One of the main reasons for such pain may be. This disease is especially dangerous when it occurs in its acute form. The following signs may indicate an acute form:

• the pain is sharp, cutting in nature;
• vomiting and severe bloating appear;
• painful sensations appeared after a heavy feast or excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages, especially strong ones.

Signs of chronic pancreatitis are periodic pain that appears after eating fried foods, high in fat or spices.

Abdominal pain (video)

Abdominal pain in adults and children is the complaint most often encountered by doctors. What to do and what not to do in such cases.

Basic diagnostic methods

Correct diagnosis of abdominal pain is possible only when a person does not try to be his own doctor. That is why in this state you should not use any painkillers or narcotic drugs, drink all kinds of “grandmother’s infusions,” or apply hot or cold things to your stomach. The patient should be immediately transported to a medical facility if:

• acute pain continues for more than 2 hours in a row;
• blood appeared in the stool;
• cramping periodic pain torments a person for more than 12 hours;
• the pain was accompanied by frequent vomiting, especially with an admixture of blood or bile;
• body temperature increased sharply;
• weakness and fainting appeared.

A person in this condition should be helped to take a body position in which the pain will be less severe, and take his medical card.

If a person has taken any medications, their packaging should also be taken with you and shown to the doctor.

If the patient has difficulty speaking, family and friends should, if possible, describe his condition.

The nature and location of pain is of great importance for the final diagnosis.

Medical workers carry out:

• general and biochemical blood tests;
• colonoscopy;
• radiography;
• special tests for antibodies to Helicobacter, markers of viral hepatitis, and dysbacteriosis.

If your child has a stomach ache

Statistically, the most common cause of abdominal pain in a baby is acute intestinal infection. The main risk group is children under 5-6 years old. Most often, children catch it due to their still very weak, immature immunity, which is not able to fight the infection on its own.

Sources of infection are found throughout the house, and a child can easily become infected while playing. Additional symptoms for this condition, in addition to abdominal pain, often include:

• severe diarrhea;
• vomit;
• high temperature;
• weakness.

In this condition, the child’s risk of dehydration increases sharply. It is very important to organize the correct drinking regime, i.e. The baby should drink more often, but little by little: a teaspoon every 5 minutes. It should be remembered that in this condition, it is strictly forbidden to stuff a child with any disinfectants.

If there is any visible deterioration in the condition, the baby should be taken to the hospital as quickly as possible. Otherwise, he may end up in the intensive care unit, and the recovery process will be significantly prolonged.

Another fairly common cause of abdominal pain in a child is intestinal obstruction. Intussusception is almost always accompanied by constipation, the attacks of pain are cramping, weakness is felt, and gases cease to pass away.

The sooner the little patient is taken to the hospital, the less severe the consequences will be. The diagnosis is confirmed using ultrasound. Gentle treatment methods include:

• using an enema;
• introduction of special drugs;
• subsequent use of the control solution, which is released along with the feces, demonstrates that patency has been restored.

If it is not possible to help a small patient in this way, surgical intervention is indicated.