Abdominal Pain

What is abdominal pain?

Whether you call it a bellyache, a stomach ache, or a pain in the gut, the more formal term abdominal pain is more about where it hurts than what hurts or why. That’s because your abdomen is comprised of your stomach, intestines, and several other nearby organs, making abdominal pain one of the most mysterious patient complaints. The mystery surrounding abdominal pain doesn’t stop patients from seeing their doctors about it, however. Abdominal pain has long been one of the most common reasons patients make appointments with their doctors – and that’s especially true for children and their pediatricians.

Abdominal pain is most often caused by indigestion, gas, constipation, or a stomach virus. Menstrual cramps are also a common cause for women. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, food poisoning, food allergies, and other conditions can also be the culprit for abdominal pain.