Acute Abdomen: Causes, Symptoms & What to Do

Acute abdomen refers to sudden onset of severe abdominal pain. Common causes of acute abdomen include:

- Appendicitis: Inflammation of the appendix, a small finger-shaped organ attached to the large intestine

- Perforated ulcers: A hole or tear in the lining of the stomach or duodenum, leading to leakage of stomach contents into the abdominal cavity.

- Intestinal obstruction: Blockage of the intestines, preventing the passage of stool and gas

- Biliary colic: Severe pain caused by gallstones blocking the bile ducts

- Pancreatitis: Inflammation of the pancreas

- Diverticulitis: Inflammation and infection of small pouches in the colon (diverticula)

- Mesenteric ischemia: Inadequate blood supply to the intestines

- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID): Infection of the female reproductive organs

- Ectopic pregnancy: Implantation of a fertilized egg outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tubes

- Kidney stones: Stones forming in the kidneys and obstructing the flow of urine

- Abdominal aortic aneurysm: A bulge or ballooning of the main artery in the abdomen

- Ovarian cysts: Fluid-filled sacs that develop in the ovaries

- Twisted ovarian cyst: Ovarian cyst that twists on its supporting tissue, cutting off blood supply and causing pain

- Inguinal hernia: A weakness in the abdominal wall that allows abdominal contents to protrude through a weakness in the groin area.