Health Encyclopedia

Abdominal distress

Definition

Abdominal distress is any pain or discomfort in the abdomen. The abdomen is the part of the body between the chest and groin. It is often referred to as the stomach region or belly.

Information

Diseases or problems with any of the organs inside the abdominal cavity can lead to pain as well as other symptoms such as a change in bowel habits, nausea, or vomiting.

Abdominal pain may be:

Acute (sudden) or chronic (ongoing)
Crampy or sharp
Associated with abdominal rigidity (board-like stiffness)

Rigidity suggests peritonitis and may be due to a ruptured organ (such as the appendix).

Pain in the abdomen may also start from somewhere else -- such as your chest or pelvic area. It may be due to an infection (such as the flu or strep throat) that affects many parts of your body.

If you have any sudden onset of abdominal pain, you should seek immediate medical attention. Call your local emergency number (such as 911) or go to the hospital emergency room if:

You are dizzy or light-headed
You are unable to pass stool, especially if you are also vomiting
You are vomiting blood or have blood in your stool (especially if maroon or dark, tarry black)
You have chest, neck, or shoulder pain
You have pain with a fever (over 100 degrees Fahrenheit for adults or 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit for children)
You have sudden, sharp abdominal pain
Your abdomen is tender and hard to the touch

References

King KE, Wightman JM. Abdominal Pain. In: Marx J. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 6th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2006: Chap. 22.

Review Date:4/25/2008
Reviewed By:Jacob L. Heller, M.D., M.H.A., F.A.C.E.P., Section of Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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