Sharp abdominal pain

Abdominal Pain - Introduction

Abdominal pain may originate from a simple indigestion or can be related to many conditions which affect organs in the abdominal cavity. In some cases even illnesses of the pelvic organs may feature with abdominal pain. The pain is either acute or chronic and may be accompanied by additional symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, belching, bloating, diarrhea and constipation. The pain may be rather severe and interfere in everyday activities. If the pain intensifies and lasts for a longer period of time it may point to the presence of serious medical condition and it requires prompt medical care.

Causes of Sharp Abdominal Pain

In babies the most common cause of sharp abdominal pain is colic. The babies suffering from colic experience sharp abdominal pain and their intestine is gassy. The pain is responsible for frequent crying. Even the behavior of babies points to the presence of pain. Namely, they are irritated and they pull their legs up toward the belly. Colic commonly affects babies who are 10 days to several months old.

Another cause of sharp abdominal pain is constipation. This condition affects people of all ages including babies, children, teenagers, adults and elderly people. The most common cause of constipation is insufficient intake of food rich in fibers (fruit and vegetables). In some people, constipation may be also related to stress and lack of physical activity. Still, it is basically related to improper dietary habits.

Certain gynecological disorders such as pelvic inflammatory disease, salpingitis, ectopic pregnancy, premenstrual syndrome, endometriosis, ovarian cysts etc. may cause sharp abdominal pain.

One more cause of sharp abdominal pain is infection. Numerous infections may feature with sharp abdominal pain. Food poisoning and almost every infective illness of the intestine is typically accompanied by abdominal pain of different intensity.

Inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract leads to swelling of the affected tissues and is typically accompanied by pain. Many inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract including inflammatory bowel disease and Chron's disease etc are responsible for sharp abdominal pain. Even irritation of the stomach, intestine and other abdominal organs may result in certain painful sensations.

All in all, no matter what the cause of sharp abdominal is the doctor is supposed to set the diagnosis as soon as possible and treat patients properly. The patients may help the doctor if they describe the pain and provide with additional information about the pain. It is essential to report whether the pain is generalized or localized on specific part of the abdomen. Furthermore, the patients also needs to report if the pain radiates to other parts of the abdomen or other body parts. This way the setting of the diagnosis can be much easier and will not take much time.