Pain is one of the most common complaints in our society, and ABDOMINAL PAIN is a situation that everyone encounters at least once in their lifetime. If we look at the order of visits to the doctor, abdominal pain comes first.
Abdominal pain is a symptom that occurs as a sign of an ongoing organic or functional disorder. Diseases that cause abdominal pain in children and adults differ.
When evaluating complaints of abdominal pain in adults, the patient's age, duration, location, severity of pain, other accompanying symptoms, and the patient's smoking and alcohol habits and use are taken into account. medications (especially intra-abdominal bleeding that may be caused by blood thinners), surgeries, whether there is a chronic disease (diabetes, hypertension, circulatory disorder, liver and kidney disease), existing diseases in first-degree relatives (example: Familial Mediterranean Fever, digestive system cancers, uterine and ovarian cancers) must be taken into consideration.
After detailed examination, Complete Blood Count, urinalysis, fecal parasite and occult blood examinations, liver and kidney function tests, ultrasonography, electrocardiography and, if necessary, colonoscopy and gastroscopy examinations are performed. are evaluated and diseases that cause abdominal pain are detected.
If abdominal pain lasts for weeks or months, recurs, increases in severity and is persistent, it is CHRONIC and should be examined in detail. If we list the diseases that cause chronic abdominal pain:
- Peptic ulcer disease
- Stomach cancers
- Gallbladder and biliary tract diseases
- Liver tumors
- Pancreatic diseases (pancreatic gland inflammatory diseases and tumors)
- Irritable colon syndrome (spastic colon)
- Colon (large intestine) cancers
- Small intestine diseases (infection and tumors)
- Chronic intestinal obstructions
- Tuberculous peritonitis (tuberculosis of the abdominal lining)
- Kidney tumors
- Vasculitis (vascular inflammation) occurring in connective tissue diseases
- Infection, cysts and tumors of the uterus and ovaries
- Lead poisoning
- Porphyria
- Familial Mediterranean fever
- Infections and tumors of male reproductive organs
- Intestinal parasites
Abdominal pain that begins suddenly, that is, within 6 hours It is ACUTE and can be a symptom of many diseases:
- Acute gastroenteritis (Viral or bacterial intestinal infections)
- Acute appendicitis
- Acute cholecystitis (Inflammatory disease of the gallbladder) )
- Acute diverticulitis (inflammation of the sacs in the intestinal wall)
- Acute pancreatitis (inflammatory disease of the pancreas)
- Acute intestinal obstructions
- Due to peptic ulcer perforation of the stomach or duodenum
- Rupture of the abdominal carotid artery (aortic dissection) in elderly patients
- Stones, infection in the kidney or urinary tract
- Development of ketoacidosis in diabetic patients
- Hernia strangulation
- Shingles
Abdominal pain is not only caused by organs in the abdominal cavity, but also by lung inflammations (pneumonia), pleural inflammation, rib fractures and heart attacks.
In what situations should people with abdominal pain consult a doctor?
- Sudden, increasing in severity, repetitive and continuous pain
- Pain accompanied by shortness of breath in case of fainting, vomiting and high fever
- Blood in the stool
- Sensitivity when touching the painful area in the abdomen
- Tension and swelling in the abdomen, gas and stool passing difficulty
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