Treatment plans for abdominal pain are individualized depending on the underlying cause, the presence of coexisting diseases, the age and medical history of the patient, and other factors. Treatment generally involves a multifaceted plan that addresses the cause, minimizes the discomfort of abdominal pain and decreases the risk of developing serious complications of underlying causes, such as anemia, shock, sepsis and dehydration.
When abdominal pain is caused by a self-limiting condition, such as a viral gastroenteritis or indigestion, the treatment includes resting the stomach by not eating solid foods until abdominal pain has passed for a period of time and ensuring adequate hydration. This can be achieved by drinking water or an oral rehydrating fluid, such as Pedialyte.
In some cases, medications are used to treat abdominal pain. Antibiotics may be prescribed when abdominal pain is caused by a bacterial infection, such as in bacterial food poisoning due to shigella, salmonella or campylobacter or some sexually transmitted diseases. Surgery may also be needed to treat some causes of abdominal pain, such as ectopic pregnancy.
Treatment of abdominal pain that is caused by serious or life-threatening conditions, such as intestinal obstruction and appendicitis includes hospitalization, medications, intravenous fluids and medications, and surgery.
The list of treatments mentioned in various sources for Abdominal Pain includes the following list. Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment or change in treatment plans.
The first step in getting correct treatment is to get a correct diagnosis. Differential diagnosis list for Abdominal Pain may include:
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