Causes of Abdominal Pain
Causes for abdominal pain include the following:
- Gastrointestinal (GI) tract
- Bowel obstruction (partial or complete blockage that prevents intestinal contents from passing properly; e.g., large colorectal polyp, hernia, tumor)
- Colic (in infants)
- Colon cancer
- Constipation (decrease in the frequency of bowel movements or the passage of hard, dry stools)
- Food allergy
- Food poisoning
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Heartburn, indigestion
- Hiatal hernia (occurs when the lower part of the esophagus and a portion of the stomach slide up through the esophageal hiatus, which is an opening in the diaphragm through which the esophagus passes before it reaches the stomach)
- Infection (e.g., viral, bacterial, parasitic)
- Inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis)
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Malabsorption syndromes (e.g., lactose intolerance)
- Stomach (gastric) cancer
- Ulcers
- Biliary system
- Gallbladder disease (e.g., cholecystitis), gallstones
- Liver disease
- Pancreatitis
- Urinary tract
- Bladder cancer
- Interstitial cystitis
- Kidney cancer
- Kidney infection (pyelonephritis)
- Kidney stones
- Urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Reproductive tract
- Endometriosis
- Menstrual cramps
- Ovarian cancer
- Ovarian cysts
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
- Uterine fibroids
- Cardiovascular system
- Aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection (medical emergency that often causes severe pain)
- Heart attack
