Abdominal pain | |
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Synonyms |
stomach ache, tummy ache Field = General surgery |
Abdominal pain can be characterized by the region it affects. | |
Classification and external resources | |
ICD-10 | R10 |
ICD-9-CM | 789.0 |
DiseasesDB | 14367 |
MedlinePlus | 003120 |
Patient UK | Abdominal pain |
MeSH | D015746 |
stomach ache, tummy ache
Abdominal pain, also known as stomach pain or tummy ache, is a common symptom associated with non-serious and serious causes.
Common causes of pain in the abdomen include gastroenteritis and irritable bowel syndrome. In a third of cases the exact cause is unclear. About 10% of people have a more serious underlying condition such as appendicitis, leaking or ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, diverticulitis, or ectopic pregnancy. Determining the cause can be difficult, because many diseases can cause this symptom.
The most frequent reason for abdominal pain are gastroenteritis (13%), irritable bowel syndrome (8%), urinary tract problems (5%), inflammation of the stomach (5%) and constipation (5%). In about 30% of cases, the cause is not determined. About 10% of cases have a more serious cause including gallbladder (gallstones or biliary dyskinesia) or pancreas problems (4%), diverticulitis (3%), appendicitis (2%) and cancer (1%). More common in those who are older, mesenteric ischemia and abdominal aortic aneurysms are other serious causes.
A more extensive list includes the following:
Acute abdomen can be defined as severe, persistent abdominal pain of sudden onset that is likely to require surgical intervention to treat its cause. The pain may frequently be associated with nausea and vomiting, abdominal distention, fever and signs of shock. One of the most common conditions associated with acute abdominal pain is acute appendicitis.