By Faozat Aragbaye

Abdominal pain is pain that occurs between the chest and pelvic regions. Abdominal pain can be crampy, achy, dull, intermittent or sharp. It’s also called stomach ache. Abdominal pain can have causes that are not due to underlying disease.
Inflammation or diseases that affect the organs in the abdomen include:
* intestine ( small and large)
* kidneys
* appendix ( a part of large intestine)
* spleen
* stomach
* gallbladder
* liver
* pancreas

CAUSES
Abdominal pain can be caused by many conditions. However, the main causes are infection, abdominal growths, inflammation, obstruction (blockage), and intestinal disorders.
Infections in the throat, intestines, and blood can cause bacteria to enter the digestive tract, resulting in abdominal pain. These infections may also cause changes in digestion, such as diarrhoea or constipation.
Cramps associated with menstruation are also a potential source of lower abdominal pain or pelvic pain.
Other common causes of abdominal pain include:
* constipation
* diarrhoea
* gastroenteritis
* acid reflux
* vomiting
* stress
* food poisoning
Diseases that affect the digestive system can also cause chronic abdominal pain, the most common are:
* Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
* Irritable bowel syndrome
* Crohn’s disease
* Lactose intolerance
* Ulcers
Causes of severe abdominal pain include:
* Organ rupture or near rupture ( such as a burst appendix, or appendicitis).
* gallbladder stones
* kidney stones
* kidney infection
Characteristics of abdominal pain include:
* cramping
* dull ache or sharp pain
* burning pain
* twisting pain
* constant or intermittent pain
* sudden or slow onset of pain
* short or long lasting pain
* Central or spreading pain to the back, neck, shoulder, other parts of the abdomen and the pelvis.

Location of abdominal pain
The location of the abdominal pain may give a clue to its cause.
Generalized pain in the abdomen may indicate;
* Appendicitis
* Crohn’s disease
* Traumatic injury
* Irritable bowel syndrome
* Urinary tract infection
* the flu
Pain in the lower abdomen may indicate;
* appendicitis
* intestinal obstruction
* ectopic pregnancy
In women, pain in the reproductive organs of the lower abdomen can be caused by;
* severe menstrual pain
* ovarian cysts
* miscarriage
* fibroids
* endometriosis
* pelvic inflammatory disease
* ectopic pregnancy
Upper abdominal pain may be caused by:
* gallstones
* heart attack
* hepatitis
* pneumonia
Pain in the centre of the abdomen might be from:
* appendicitis
* gastroenteritis
* injury
* uraemia ( built-up of waste products in the blood)
Lower left abdominal pain may be caused by:
* Crohn’s disease
* cancer
* kidney infection
* ovarian cysts
* appendicitis
Upper left abdominal pain is sometimes caused by:
* enlarged spleen
* faecal impaction
* injury
* kidney infection
* heart attack
* cancer
Causes of lower right abdominal pain include:
* appendicitis
* hernia
* kidney infection
* cancer
* flu
Upper right abdominal pain may be from:
* hepatitis
* injury
* pneumonia
* appendicitis

SYMPTOMS
Mild abdominal pain may go away without treatment. However, in some cases abdominal pain may call for medical attention when it’s severe, prolonged, and with the following symptoms:
* bloody stools
* high fever
* vomiting up blood
* persistent nausea and vomiting
* yellowing of the skin or eyes
* swelling or severe tenderness of the abdomen
* difficulty breathing
* unexplained weight loss
* prolonged constipation

DIAGNOSIS
The cause of abdominal pain can be diagnosed through series of tests. These include:
* Physical examination
** X-rays
* MRI scans
* Ultrasounds
* Colonoscopy
* Endoscopy
* Barium meal
* Blood urine and stool samples

TREATMENT
Treatments depend on the cause of abdominal pain. Some types of abdominal pain can be treated simply with over-the-counter remedies from the chemist or pharmacy. Treatments can range from medications for inflammation, GERD, or ulcers, to antibiotics for infections, to changes in personal behaviour for abdominal pain caused by certain foods or beverages. Others cases such as hernia, etc may require surgery after confirming the diagnosis.

PREVENTION
Not all forms of abdominal pain are preventable. However, you can minimize the risk of developing abdominal pain with the followings:
* Eating a healthy diet
* Drinking water frequently
* Exercise regularly
* Eating smaller meals.
* In case of intestinal disorder, such as Crohn’s disease, follow the diet as prescribed to minimize discomfort. For people with GERD, they should avoid meal within two hours of bedtime. Try waiting at least two hours before lying down.