Almost everyone will experience stomach aches and pains at some point in their lives. The causes of stomach pain range from a mild ache caused by a food bug to more serious issues like irritable bowel disease or appendicitis.
Stomach pain can loosely be described as either acute or chronic. Acute pain comes on suddenly and gets worse over a short time, usually hours to days. Chronic pain is long-lasting and experienced over weeks to months.
Examples of acute pain
- Food poisoning
- Food allergies
- Indigestion (ie. heartburn)
- Urinary tract infection
- Gallstones
- Kidney stones
- Appendicitis
Examples of chronic pain
Chronic pain is pain that lasts for weeks or months. This pain may come and go.
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
- Indigestion (ie. heartburn)
Most causes of stomach pain are mild and not life threatening. However, the following signs and symptoms mean that help should be sought urgently
- Stomach pain that is sharp, debilitating or severe in nature.
- Stomach pain that is associated with diarrhea and vomiting.
- Stomach pain in an area of the stomach where a recent injury was experienced.
- A high temperature
- Unable to hold down food or fluids for more than 2 days
- Signs of dehydration, including not urinating frequently, dark-colored urine, and excessive thirst.
- No bowel movements for a few days, especially if you’re also vomiting.
Diagnosis
After taking a medical history and carrying out an examination, your doctor may recommend some diagnostic tests. This will help them pinpoint the nature of the injury and determine treatment options.
Treatment
Treatment of stomach pain depends on the cause. For example, a stomach bug that is causing diarrhea and cramps may be treated at home with rest and fluids. More serious causes of stomach pain such as appendicitis or kidney stones may require medications, further diagnostic testing or admission to hospital. This all depends on your particular case.
References
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