Have you ever experienced abdominal pain that is very heavy and wrapped around suddenly? If so, you may experience abdominal colic. This condition should not be ignored, because it can indicate a serious illness that needs to be treated immediately by a doctor.
Abdominal colic is severe pain in the abdomen that is intermittent. What underlies the occurrence of abdominal colic is muscle contraction, blockage, or inflammation of the organs in the abdominal cavity, such as the intestine, rectum, gallbladder, kidney, or urinary tract.
Colic is quite common in infants. But not only colic in infants, complaints of severe abdominal pain can also occur in adults. Whatever the cause, complaints of abdominal colic are conditions that need to be examined by a doctor.
Characteristics and Causes of Abdomen Colic
In adults, this complaint can appear suddenly and occur only once or repeatedly within a period of several days, months, or even years.
Abdominal colic is characterized by severe pain, then subsides, and then the pain returns. In adults, abdominal colic can be caused by several diseases, namely:
1. Intestinal colic
Intestinal colic is pain that originates in the small intestine or large intestine. This condition is caused by various disorders of the large intestine, such as inflammation, infection, until a blockage in the intestine that makes food and fluid can not pass through the intestine (obstructive ileus).
Disorders of the intestine can be caused by several things, namely:
- Inflammation of the intestines, for example appendicitis and Crohn's disease.
- Typhoid fever.
- Hernia.
- Blockage of blood vessels (ischemia) in the intestine.
- Scarring due to abdominal surgery or pelvic surgery.
- Diverticulitis or inflammation of the cavities in the walls of the large intestine.
- Bowel cancer.
Symptoms of intestinal colic include abdominal pain, constipation, difficulty farting, vomiting, and decreased appetite.
2. Peritonitis
The abdominal cavity is coated by a protective layer called the peritoneum. When this layer becomes inflamed due to bacterial infection, a condition called peritonitis can occur.
People who experience peritonitis will show symptoms of fever, weakness, abdominal pain that is very severe (colic abdomen) accompanied by a hardened stomach and more pain when pressed.
Peritonitis can be caused by a variety of things, such as a ruptured appendix, a hole in the stomach, intestines, and bile, pancreatitis, to pelvic inflammatory disease.
3. Biliary colic
Biliary colic is abdominal pain that results from a blockage in the bile duct by gallstones. When the bile duct is blocked, the muscles around the duct contract strongly to move the existing gallstones, causing biliary colic.
This complaint is characterized by severe and constant pain that appears suddenly on the right side of the upper abdomen. Pain can spread to the right shoulder blade and sometimes accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
The pain can increase over time, but not more than a few hours. This pain usually occurs after someone eats fatty foods or when breaking the fast with large portions of food.
4. Kidney colic
Kidney colic is a pain that arises due to a blockage in the urinary tract by kidney stones, blood clots, to infection. This complaint is characterized by severe pain in the lower back or side, either the left, right, or both sides. Sometimes the pain also feels up to the stomach and groin.
Kidney colic pain generally appears suddenly, disappear and arise, and get worse over time. Other symptoms that arise, including pain during urination, fever, nausea, and vomiting.
Apart from the diseases above, abdominal colic can also be caused by other diseases, such as peptic ulcers, pregnancy outside the womb (ectopic pregnancy), hepatitis, endometriosis, to disorders of the ovaries or ovaries, such as ovarian cyst rupture.
Differentiating Abdomen Colic and Normal Stomach Pain
Sometimes abdominal colic can be felt to resemble normal abdominal pain or cramps. If it is caused by ordinary abdominal pain, the pain will generally subside for some time or with the use of pain relievers.
Whereas in most cases, abdominal colic may not improve after the use of pain medication. Because it can be caused by many things and pain that is felt very severe, abdominal colic needs to be seen by a doctor
In determining the diagnosis and looking for the cause of abdominal colic experienced by patients, the doctor will conduct a physical examination and a series of supporting examinations, such as blood and urine tests, radiological examinations, such as X-rays, ultrasound, and CT scans of the abdominal cavity.
How to Overcome Abdomen Colic
Once the cause is known, the handling of abdominal colic will be adjusted to the cause.
Abdominal colic caused by kidney stones or gallstones can be treated with a number of methods, namely drugs, shock wave therapy to break and remove stones, and surgical procedures. The method used depends on how big the stone is, its location and severity.
As for abdominal colic caused by peritonitis or rupture of the appendix, surgery steps will be needed to treat the patient's condition.
To prevent abdominal colic, there are several ways you can do it, including:
- Increase consumption of water at least 8 glasses per day.
- Eating foods with small portions, but often.
- Eating vegetables and fruit regularly.
- Limit foods that contain gas and avoid greasy or high-fat foods.
- Avoid caffeinated and fizzy drinks.
- Get regular exercise.
You are advised to see a doctor if colicky abdominal pain does not improve or actually gets worse within 2-4 days. Especially if the complaint is accompanied by fever, diarrhea that never gets better, nausea and vomiting, vomiting of blood, and weight loss for no apparent reason.
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