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Abdominal pain is one of the most common symptoms with which patients come to a doctor's office. When it is accompanied by rectal bleeding, these symptoms are usually of great concern. What are the causes of abdominal pain, and what does rectal bleeding show? Which doctor should we go to with these kinds of symptoms?

Abdominal pain - what could it mean?

Abdominal painis a non-specific symptom that may accompany many diseases. The causes of abdominal pain are often difficult to identify at the first visit, but the most important clue for your doctor may be the location of the pain. It is worth knowing the most important diseases that cause abdominal pain in a given location.

Abdominal pain - types

Abdominal pain in medicine is conventionally divided into:

Acute, somatic pain- this type of pain appears suddenly, the patient can usually accurately determine its location, and what's more - it is aggravated by movement, coughing and a change in body position . The causes of acute abdominal pain include:

  • appendicitis;
  • peptic ulcer perforation;
  • intestinal obstruction;
  • acute cholecystitis;
  • spleen rupture;
  • acute cholangitis;
  • urolithiasis.

Chronic, visceral pain- lasts for months or even years. The patient is usually not able to accurately determine its location, it usually recovers and increases relatively slowly and may intensify at rest. The causes of chronic abdominal pain include:

  • irritable bowel syndrome;
  • chronic gastritis;
  • gastric and duodenal ulcers;
  • ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease;
  • celiakia;
  • gastrointestinal parasitic infections.

Pain in the upper right side of the abdomen - causes

The abdominal area is conventionally divided into several quadrants. The right upper quadrant is the right subcostal area.

Pain in the right hypochondrium (on the right side of the abdomen at the top) may be o:

  • cholecystitis;
  • spikesbiliary;
  • acute hepatitis (e.g. viral);
  • renal spine (in this case right);
  • inflammation of the lower right lung;
  • congestive heart failure - This leads to an enlarged liver due to blood stagnation, which causes pain in this area of ​​the abdomen.

Pain in the upper left side of the abdomen - causes

The left upper quadrant is the left subcostal area (pain in the left hypochondrium). Pain in this abdominal quadrant may result from, inter alia, with:

  • spleen rupture or infarction;
  • renal colic, this time left-sided;
  • inflammation of the left lower lobe of the lung;
  • ischemia of the splenic flexion of the colon.

Abdominal pain - causes

An important area of ​​the abdomen is the epigastric region, i.e. the upper part of the abdomen, located between the right and left subcostal regions. Abdominal pain is extremely frequently reported by patients.

The cause of epigastric pain may be, among others :

  • gastroesophageal reflux disease;
  • gastric and duodenal ulcers;
  • abdominal aortic aneurysm;
  • gastroenteritis.

Pain in the navel area - causes

Another possible location for abdominal pain is the umbilical region.

Pain in the navel area may result from:

  • gastroenteritis;
  • intestinal obstruction;
  • inflammatory bowel diseases (e.g. ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease);
  • pancreatitis;
  • umbilical hernia;
  • early stage appendicitis;
  • intestinal ischemia.

Pain in the lower abdomen - what does it result from?

Pain located in the lower abdomen may indicate:

  • adnexitis;
  • cystitis;
  • irritable bowel syndrome;
  • inflammation of organs in the pelvis;
  • renal spines;
  • abscess located in the pelvic area.

Abdominal pain at the bottom - what could it mean?

With regard to the lower left abdominal quadrant (a colloquial term - lower left abdominal pain), pain in this area may result, among others, from from the presence of diseases such as:

  • indentation of the sigmoid;
  • left ovarian cyst;
  • left ovary torsion;
  • left ovary rupture;
  • ectopic pregnancy;
  • inflammation of the left sacroiliac joint;
  • acute diverticulitis.

Pain in the lower right quadrant (colloquially: lower right abdominal painpages) may be a consequence of such diseases as:

  • appendicitis - it is worth remembering that in this disease entity the pain initially locates around the navel and then moves to the lower right quadrant;
  • right-sided renal colic;
  • cyst, torsion or rupture of the right ovary;
  • ectopic pregnancy;
  • inflammation of the right sacroiliac joint;
  • adnexitis.

It is worth remembering that the diseases listed above and the location of pain typical for them are only a hint for the doctor. The location of pain is not sufficient information for a specific clinical diagnosis.

Abdominal pain and rectal bleeding - what is this evidence?

Rectal bleeding is the presence of fresh blood or blood clots in the stools. It is not worth underestimating this symptom, as it may indicate a developing neoplastic disease.

The main causes of rectal bleeding are:

  • Hemorrhoids - This is the most common cause of rectal bleeding. Hemorrhoids are dilated haemorrhoids - i.e. venous vessels that, under physiological conditions, make it possible to control gas and stool release. Factors such as obesity, chronic constipation, pregnancy, as well as intense physical exertion and a sedentary lifestyle predispose to hemorrhoids;
  • Anal fissure - a defect formed in the anal canal, manifested primarily by pain during defecation, itching and burning of the anus. The causes of anal fissures include: mechanical trauma during the expulsion of hard stool, disturbance of the blood supply to the anal canal wall, as well as retention of gases and stool.
  • Colorectal cancer - overt bleeding manifests cancer, which is located in the left half of the colon and rectum. Tumors located in the right part of the colon do not reveal overt bleeding, so their diagnosis is more difficult. Colorectal cancer is also indicated by a change in bowel habits, pencil-shaped stools (this is characteristic of rectal cancer), and weight loss;
  • Bleeding from diverticula - diverticula are small hernias in the lining of the large intestine. Most often they are located in the sigmoid colon, but not in the rectum. The most important risk factor for diverticula is age - after 60 years of age, they occur in up to 50% of the population. Bleeding from diverticula is one of the complications of this condition;
  • Vascular changes in the large intestine.

You should be aware that rectal bleeding should not be underestimated, as it may indicate the development of a serious disease. Themthe sooner the cause of the bleeding is identified, the greater the chance of treatment success.

Abdominal pain, rectal bleeding - which doctor should I see?

If you experience rectal bleeding, you should immediately see a doctor - preferably to a general practitioner who, after an interview and examination of the patient, will decide on further diagnostic procedures.

Abdominal pain or rectal bleeding are mostly symptoms of gastrointestinal diseases . These types of diseases are de alt with by a gastroenterologist. If the patient needs this type of consultation, he or she will certainly receive a referral from his doctor to this specialist.

Moreover, the family doctor can refer the patient to an ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity, as well as to colonoscopy, during which it is possible to take specimens for histopathological examination (under a microscope). Underestimating symptoms and delaying a visit to a doctor may lead to the progression of the disease and the development of complications.

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Category:

Gastrology