First aid VIII

8.Abdominal Pain
         -is pain that is felt in the abdomen.The abdomen is an anatomical area that is bounded by the lower margin of the ribs and diaphragm above, the pelvic bone (pubic ramus) below, and the flanks on each side. Although abdominal pain can arise from the tissues of the abdominal wall that surround the abdominal cavity (such as the skin and abdominal wall muscles).
          -term abdominal pain generally is used to describe


Pain originating from organs within the abdominal cavity
                                                                                                    

Causes:
1.Inflammation(for example appendecitis,diverticulitis,colitis)
2.Stretching or distention of an organ (for example, obstruction of the intestine, blockage of a bile duct by gallstones,swelling of the liver with hepatitis)


Characteristics of the pain:

• The way the pain begins-for example,abdominal pain that comes on suddenly suggests a sudden event, for example, the interruption of the supply of blood to the colon (ischemia) or obstruction of the bile duct by a gallstone (biliary colic).

• The location of the pain.
• Appendecitis-typically causes pain in the right lower abdomen, the usual location of the appendix.
•  Diverticulitis-typically causes pain in the left lower abdomen where most colonic diverticuli are located.
• Pain from the gallbladder (biliary colic or cholecystitis)-typically is felt in the right upper abdomen where the gallbladder is located.

                    

Signs and Symptoms:

• The presence of fever suggests inflammation.
•  Diarrhea or rectal bleeding suggests an intestinal cause of the pain.
• The presence of fever and diarrhea suggest inflammation of the intestines that may be infectious or non-infectious (Ulcerative  colon or Crohn's disease).

Treatment:

• Make the casualty comfortable. Prop them up if breathing is difficult. Provide a vomit bowl.
• Give the casualty a Hot/warm water bottle wrapped in a towel to place on their abdomen.
• If the pain is severe or occurs with fever and vomiting call a doctor. Do not allow the casualty to eat, drink or smoke in case hospital treatment is needed.

If you suspect appendicitis,call for medical help.