What do you usually do when you have a stomach ache? Most of us either take some medicine or simply take a rest. But there are times when the pain becomes unbearable. It is when you need a doctor. However, stomach pain should not be confused with abdominal pain. Abdominal pain refers to discomfort anywhere in the belly region, spanning from the ribs to the pelvis.
While we commonly refer to it as “stomach pain” or a “stomach ache,” the pain in the abdomen can originate from various organs beyond the stomach like the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and large and small intestines. Pain can even arise in the abdominal wall, encompassing the skin and muscles forming the outer shell of the abdomen. It’s crucial to acknowledge that the pain felt in the belly might also emanate from other areas such as the chest, pelvis, or back.
Dr Amita Jain, leading abdomen surgeon in the field of laparoscopy, in India shares a few warning signs for abdominal pain that need immediate medical attention. However, before we delve deep, let’s understand the types of abdominal pain.
The abdomen is divided into four quadrants by the doctors for diagnosis of the pain. They are: upper (above the belly button), lower (below it), right-sided, and left-sided. The midline, extending from the sternum to the belly button, helps distinguish the location of discomfort in the abdomen for medical assessment.
What are the Warning Signs for Abdominal Pain?
Dr Amita Jain, says, you need to look for the following signs, these are:
1. Sudden and intense abdominal pain, with an almost piercing sensation, is a serious concern, possibly indicating conditions like appendicitis, organ perforation, or gastrointestinal tract rupture. For instance, in the case of appendicitis, the pain is usually felt in the lower right abdomen but may start anywhere in the abdomen along with loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, or fever.
2. Persistent stomach pain lasting more than a day, spreading to your back, could signal serious conditions like acute pancreatitis or cholecystitis. In pancreatitis, pain starts in the upper abdomen, often extending to the back, accompanied by symptoms like fever, nausea, vomiting, and a swollen abdomen.
Cholecystitis may begin with severe upper abdomen pain, later spreading to the right shoulder or back, with additional symptoms like nausea, vomiting, fever, and stomach tenderness. Given the severity, seeking immediate medical attention is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
3. Vomiting: Persistent dull or sudden severe abdominal pain, coupled with intense and prolonged vomiting, is a serious concern. This combination may indicate significant complications such as a ruptured appendix, spleen issues, pancreatitis, gastrointestinal tract obstruction, or gallbladder infection. If you’re vomiting blood, seek urgent medical attention. Consult a doctor immediately for proper evaluation and diagnosis.
4. High Fever: If you have sudden or prolonged intense abdominal pain along with a high fever (above 100.4°F or 38°C), chills, and excessive sweating, it might indicate a serious infection or inflammation. Conditions like appendicitis or pelvic inflammatory disease could be the cause. Don’t hesitate to seek medical attention immediately.
5. Blood in Stool: If you notice dark brown or black stool with abdominal pain, seek immediate medical attention. These symptoms may indicate serious conditions like gastrointestinal tract damage from ulcers, trauma, or tumours. Regular intense stomach pain and bloody diarrhoea, occurring semi-regularly, could suggest inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) like ulcerative colitis.
This chronic condition causes inflammation in the large intestine, leading to symptoms like fatigue, nausea, weight loss, and anaemia. If you experience painful, recurring, bloody diarrhoea, consult your doctor for evaluation.
6. Unexplained Weight loss along with abdominal pain that lasts for a long time needs medical evaluation. It could be due to issues like celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, or even cancer.
These warning signs will help you to take prompt action thereby ensuring timely medical attention.
Dr Amita Jain is a surgeon with highest degree of professional competence, precision and surgical craftsmanship. Performed all complicated general surgery procedures with in depth knowledge of invasive and few minimal invasive and onco surgical techniques. Underwent special training in trauma, executed various trauma-related complex life-saving neurosurgical procedures, reconstructed injured mangled limbs and performed vascular and reconstructive procedures with critical care.
Dr Amita Jain holds 28 plus years of rich experience in Trauma and General Laparoscopic Surgeries (including Gallbladder stone removal, appendix removal, hernia repair surgery, piles and fissure surgeries). She was the Professor Surgery of at the Army College of Medical Sciences and Base Hospital Delhi Cantt. In 1994 she was commissioned as Surgeon under the United Nations Mission in Congo. From 2020 to 2022, she worked with Bansals Hospital. Currently, Dr Amita Jain is the Senior Consultant, (Speciality: General and Laparoscopic Surgeon) at Artemis Lite Hospital, New Delhi