Generalized abdominal pain can have various causes, ranging in severity from 'minor' to 'generally fatal'. Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.
Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms. In order to diagnose generalized abdominal pain, we could:
Cause | Probability | Status |
---|---|---|
Carcinoid Cancer | 97% | Confirm |
Endometriosis | 29% | Unlikely |
Aspartame/Neotame Side-Effects | 26% | Unlikely |
Hemochromatosis | 4% | Ruled out |
Glomerulonephritis | 4% | Ruled out |
Ovarian Cancer | 3% | Ruled out |
Giardia | 1% | Ruled out |
West Nile Virus | 1% | Ruled out |
Do you experience general abdominal discomfort or pain that is difficult to pinpoint?
Possible responses:
→ No / can pinpoint / only after meals / don't know→ Occasional mild discomfort → Frequent mild and/or occasional moderate pain → Frequent moderate and/or occasional severe pain → Frequent or constant severe pain |
Severe acute or prolonged abdominal pain is a possible symptom of many serious conditions. You are advised to seek medical attention as soon as possible, unless you already know the cause of the pain.
Abdominal pain may occur alone or in combination with other symptoms such as diarrhea and/or flushing and can be controlled with pain medication.
Accumulation of fluid (due to congestive heart failure) in the liver and intestines may cause nausea, abdominal pain, and decreased appetite.
IBS can cause the intestines to contract when the digestive tract responds to triggers such as stress and certain foods. This contraction can cause severe abdominal pain.
Recurrent abdominal pain is a symptom of lactose intolerance.