Severe stomach pain can be caused by various conditions such as gastroenteritis, constipation, appendicitis, Crohn’s disease, and colitis. Treatment options vary depending on the cause and severity of the pain. It is important to seek medical attention if the pain is sudden and severe.
The causes of severe stomach pain can be serious or it could be a temporary problem that is easily treated. The most common causes of severe stomach pain include stomach flu, constipation, and appendicitis. Autoimmune diseases such as Crohn’s disease or colitis can also lead to severe stomach pain. If an individual experiences sudden, severe pain in the abdomen, they should see their doctor right away to diagnose the cause and receive appropriate treatment.
Severe stomach pain is a common symptom of gastroenteritis or the stomach flu. Gastroenteritis is usually caused by a virus and is very contagious. Fortunately, most people recover from the stomach flu after a few days of rest. The stomach pain that accompanies gastroenteritis is usually a cramping or burning pain, usually in the upper abdominal area. It is usually accompanied by fever, diarrhea and vomiting.
Severe stomach pain that is accompanied by difficulty moving the bowels is usually caused by constipation. A person can remedy constipation by eating more fiber and exercising more. If the constipation is accompanied by severe abdominal pain, the affected person should consult their doctor, especially if the pain and constipation are accompanied by weight loss and last more than a few days.
Appendicitis also causes severe stomach pain. The pain may start out mild but become more severe as the condition worsens. Usually, the pain is near the belly button and lower right section of the stomach area. It gets worse when pressure is applied to the area.
The best way to treat appendicitis is surgery to remove the appendix. In some cases, the appendix becomes infected before it’s removed and ruptures. If this happens, a patient must be treated for the infection before undergoing surgery.
Crohn’s disease and colitis, which cause inflammation in the abdominal area, also cause severe pain in some people. Not everyone with Crohn’s or colitis experiences abdominal pain. The amount and location of the pain depends on the severity of the disease and the form of the disease a person has. In some cases, Crohn’s disease leads to scarring of the intestines, which causes severe stomach pain and vomiting.
Someone with left-sided colitis or panculitis may also experience severe pain in their stomach. Along with the pain, a person may have bloody diarrhea, feel fatigued, and lose a lot of weight without trying. Treatments for colitis and Crohn’s disease may include steroids, drugs that suppress the immune system, and antibiotics.
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