What Causes Acute Or Chronic Abdominal Pain?
Acute or chronic abdominal pain can have various causes, ranging in severity from 'minor' to 'critical'. Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.
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Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms. In order to diagnose acute or chronic abdominal pain, we could:
- Research the topic
- Find a doctor with the time
- Use a diagnostic computer system.
Step 1: List all Possible Causes
We begin by identifying the disease conditions which have "acute or chronic abdominal pain" as a symptom. Here are eight of many possibilities (more below):
- Hepatitis
- Porphyria
- Pericarditis
- Gastroenteritis
- Crohn's Disease
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- Testicular Torsion
- Overconsumption
Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist
We then identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:
major unexplained weight loss
hepatitis B or C
meal-induced pain for over a month
occasional rotten egg burps
severe mid-abdomen pain after food
recent onset diarrhea
having a moderate fever
meal-induced pain for under a week
mild meal-induced pain
red palms/fingertips
occasional mucus in stools
moderate unexplained fevers
major unexplained weight loss hepatitis B or C meal-induced pain for over a month occasional rotten egg burps severe mid-abdomen pain after food recent onset diarrhea having a moderate fever meal-induced pain for under a week mild meal-induced pain red palms/fingertips occasional mucus in stools moderate unexplained fevers... and more than 60 others
Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause
A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of acute or chronic abdominal pain:
| Cause | Probability | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Crohn's Disease | 95% | Confirm |
| Pericarditis | 28% | Unlikely |
| Pelvic Inflammatory Disease | 27% | Unlikely |
| Porphyria | 2% | Ruled out |
| Testicular Torsion | 2% | Ruled out |
| Overconsumption | 0% | Ruled out |
| Hepatitis | 0% | Ruled out |
| Gastroenteritis | 0% | Ruled out |
* This is a simple example to illustrate the process
Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis
The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.
If you indicate abdominal pain unaffected by eating, abdominal pain reduced by eating or abdominal pain increased by eating, The Analyst™ will ask further questions including this one:
|
If you are experiencing episodes of abdominal discomfort or pain, how long ago did they start occurring?
Possible responses:
→ No abdominal pain / only after meals / don't know→ Less than 24 hours → 1-6 days → 1-4 weeks → 1 month or more |
Aneurysm / Rupture
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm is asymptomatic in 75% of cases, but may present as sudden severe pain that is not relieved by position change.
Coronary Disease / Heart Attack
The pain caused by a Myocardial Infarction may extend downward into the abdominal area.
Sickle Cell Trait / Disease
Abdominal pain is one of the most common symptoms of a sickle cell crisis – a painful episode that often occurs a few times each year in people who have sickle cell anemia. The sickle-shaped red blood cells block blood vessels, restricting blood and oxygen supply to various tissues, causing pain.
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Last updated: Nov 08, 2025