Stomach Ache Causes

Stomach ache or abdominal pain is a common condition and can affect people of all age groups. The causes of stomach ache are somewhat varied. It is characterized by a strong, stabbing and sharp pain in the abdominal area. Since stomach pain is a symptom of a wide range of disorders and diseases, making a definite diagnosis of its cause can be very difficult. While some of the stomach ache causes may not be very grave, those that cause severe stomach ache should be taken seriously and would need immediate medical attention. Mentioned below are a few of the important stomach ache causes in adults and in children.

Causes of Stomach Ache in Children

Indigestion: Most commonly, indigestion is what causes stomach ache in children. Children often tend to overeat things like junk food, ice creams and chocolates. They also tend to overlook the need of chewing their food properly, which can cause stomach ache due to indigestion.

Intestinal Parasites Infection: When a child gets infected by intestinal parasites or worms, it may result in a recurrent stomach ache along with the loss of appetite and vomiting. An intestinal worm infection is caused due to the consumption of unhygienic and contaminated food, eating mud and stones, and germs that are transferred from the hands to stomach.

Food Allergies: Consumption of food that the child is allergic to, can cause stomach aches. One such common food allergy observed in children is lactose intolerance. In such a case, foods that the child is allergic to should be identified and the child should be discouraged from consuming them.

Stomach Flu: Caused due to a viral or bacterial infection, stomach ache is the most important symptom of stomach flu or gastroenteritis. It may be accompanied by diarrhea, vomiting and fever and will need immediate medical treatment.

Other causes of stomach ache in children include food poisoning, constipation, acidity and gas formation. Anxiety and worry can also cause stomach aches, at times.

Causes of Stomach Ache in Adults

Infections: Most commonly, stomach ache is experienced by adults due to a bacterial or viral infection. Ailments caused due to viral infections that cause stomach ache as a symptom, include stomach flu, appendicitis, pinworm infections, infectious diarrhea, salmonella infections, rotavirus infections, etc. while those caused by bacterial infections include urinary tract infections, food poisoning, sexually transmitted diseases and pneumonia. Worm infestation can also cause stomach ache in adults.

Indigestion: Acidity and indigestion induced stomach pain, is very common among adults. This may be accompanied by other symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting. Indigestion may also be a result of intolerance towards certain foods or a food allergy.

Gastrointestinal Disorders: Gastrointestinal disorders like stomach ulcers, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, hernia, hemorrhoids, celiac sprue, tumors, etc. can all cause mild to severe stomach ache.

Gynecological Disorders: Gynecological conditions like dysmenorrhea , premenstrual syndrome, ovarian cysts and ovarian cancer, tumors and fibroids, ectopic pregnancy, etc. are causes of stomach ache.

Cancer: Colon cancer, liver cancer, bladder cancer, stomach cancer and pancreatic cancer can cause severe stomach aches. It may be difficult to diagnose this cause of stomach ache and once it has been diagnosed, proper medical care is required.

Emotional Causes: Emotional distress, depression, anxiety, stress and various other psychological factors can cause mild stomach aches.

Obesity and Dieting: Obesity can lead to stomach ache, that is experienced at frequent intervals, because the fat deposits around the stomach exert a lot of pressure on the abdominal walls. Similarly, inadequate food intake, or dieting and hunger can also cause abdominal pain.

Other causes of stomach ache include irritable bowel syndrome, kidney stones, autoimmune thyroid disease associated celiac disease, childhood onset of bipolar disorder, etc. All in all there are around 200 different stomach ache causes. Stomach ache can lead to a great deal of discomfort and can also be an indication of a serious underlying problem. Be sure to consult a doctor in case of persistent mild or severe stomach aches.