Abdominal pain and diarrhea as a symptom of disease

The appearance of abdominal pain and diarrhea is a very unpleasant situation. Especially if you consider that such a combination of symptoms can be observed not only with stomach disorders and poisoning, but also with many other pathologies. At the same time, it is very important to understand what a person is facing in order to seek help in a timely manner if necessary.

Let's leave aside such a symptom as abdominal pain for now and see what the color of stool during diarrhea can tell us.

Self-diagnosis by the nature of the stool

As we have already mentioned, black or dark burgundy color of feces indicates a dangerous condition caused by bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract. The color is due to blood that has clotted and somewhat transformed under the influence of digestive enzymes, flowing from ulcers and erosions on the mucous membrane. However, a similar situation can be observed after taking activated carbon or eating vinaigrette beets, which is not considered a pathology.

Green diarrhea and abdominal pain is a frightening symptom. But the reasons for the appearance of such a symptom can be varied. What can cause the coloring of liquid stool in a greenish tint:

• Inflammatory processes in various parts of the intestine. In this case, persistent diarrhea is observed, the consistency of feces is noticeably heterogeneous, and the greenish color of feces is associated with an acute infection that caused tissue inflammation.
• Dysentery. This is a serious infectious disease that occurs in an acute form and is accompanied by intense nausea and vomiting, as well as abdominal pain and frequently repeated loose, greenish stools.
• Some intestinal infections caused by bacterial pathogens or viruses. In this case, traces of blood and a large amount of mucus can be found in the stool.
• Internal bleeding (most often caused by stomach ulcers and oncological processes in the gastrointestinal tract). Blood contains a large amount of iron, which does not have time to oxidize normally and gives the stool a greenish tint.
• Intestinal dysbacteriosis (usually occurs against the background of infectious lesions of the gastrointestinal tract or taking antibiotics). Frequent green liquid stool with a pronounced purulent odor, acute abdominal pain, vomiting and nausea are considered common symptoms of the disease.
• Pancreatitis during periods of exacerbation of inflammation can also be characterized by loose stools of a greenish tint.
• Liver dysfunction (stool becomes light and may have a grayish, greenish or white color). A greenish tint in this case indicates an increased level of bilirubin.
• Intoxication.

Yellow diarrhea and abdominal pain do not always indicate a serious pathology. They can be caused by the abuse of dairy products, consumption of sour milk or stale dairy dishes, consumption of carbohydrate foods and impaired digestion of carbohydrates, failures in the functioning of the pancreas of the large intestine. In these cases, isolated episodes of diarrhea are noted.

If the diarrhea is severe and lasts more than a day, then most likely it is a rotavirus infection. In the first days of the disease, the color of the feces becomes unusually yellow, and then acquires a grayish tint.

A light yellow tint of feces can also be seen in ulcerative colitis. In this case, streaks of blood and even pus are found in the feces.

Usually, human feces have a brown tint and their lightening to yellow may indicate problems with the liver and gall bladder (in this case, the urine darkens) or inflammatory diseases of the stomach and pancreas. Similar changes in the color of feces can also be observed in diabetes, hormonal imbalances (including menopause and pregnancy), stress and neurological problems, intestinal dysbacteriosis, disaccharide-deficiency enteropathies.

In some diseases, the stool may acquire either a yellow or greenish tint. This is typical for salmonellosis (the stool is dark yellow or greenish), dysentery (feces may have various shades of yellow and green), staphylococcal infection (light yellow feces with green inclusions and foam), irritable bowel syndrome (the stool becomes light yellow, watery, with mucus).

Self-diagnosis of pain localization

Now let's see what the localization of pain can tell us, because it can be different for different diseases. We will consider only those situations when abdominal pain is accompanied by the development of diarrhea.

When the stomach hurts in the navel area and a person complains of diarrhea, the first thing to suspect is pathology of that part of the small intestine that is located in the very middle. This section is usually called the jejunum. On one side (above the gastrointestinal tract), the duodenum adjoins the jejunum, and on the other, the ileum. The jejunum receives partially digested food from the stomach and duodenum, flavored with juice secreted by the pancreas and bile. It is in this section of the intestine that the absorption of most of the nutrients into the blood and the reabsorption of the secretion of the digestive glands occurs.

When the jejunum is affected, the liquid food lump quickly moves to the exit, leading to diarrhea up to 5 times a day. At the same time, pain is observed in the navel area.

The described symptom complex may be evidence of:

• Serious disruption of blood supply (ischemia) of the small intestine. The disease begins with severe spasmodic pain in the navel area, which is poorly relieved by painkillers, patients suffer from vomiting and diarrhea. Then signs of tachycardia appear, cold sweat appears, sudden attacks of fear appear, blood pressure increases, blood is found in feces and vomit.
• Development of an inflammatory process on the mucous membrane of the jejunum (the pathology is called jejunitis). This disease is characterized by pain around the navel of varying nature and intensity, which is almost always combined with repeated diarrhea (up to 15-18 times a day). In some cases, diarrhea is accompanied by severe weakness, decreased blood pressure, tachycardia, and hand tremors.
• Enzyme-deficiency enteropathies (gluten and disaccharide-deficiency). Symptoms of the pathology appear immediately after eating foods that contain gluten or disaccharides. There is pain around the navel, gas formation increases, and liquid foamy stool appears, in which pieces of unprocessed food are noticeable.
• Malignant tumor processes in the jejunum. Pain in the navel area, which has a cramping character, is considered the first sign of oncology (cancer) of the small intestine. In addition, nausea, heartburn, belching, accumulation of gases in the abdomen and a specific rumbling occur. Diarrhea occurs regardless of the type of food consumed. You should suspect something is wrong with the episodic appearance of tarry stools and the development of anemia.
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In this case, the patient again experiences cramping pains in the navel area and notes increased gas formation. Diarrhea often gives way to constipation, and the feces take the form of sheep feces with or without mucus. Blood and pus in the feces with IBS are usually not observed. But the patient may be tormented by belching and burning along the esophagus. Abdominal pain becomes weaker after bowel movement or as a result of gas release. Symptoms are most pronounced in the first half of the day.

Lower back and abdominal pain and diarrhea can also have a variety of causes:

• Pancreatitis. Girdle pains in combination with diarrhea are characteristic of an exacerbation of the disease. An identical situation can be observed with tumor processes in the organ.
• Diseases of the small and sometimes large intestines (inflammation of the organ can cause irritation of the nerve fibers extending along the lower back and back).
• Ulcer of the stomach and duodenum. During exacerbations of the pathology, pain may be not only in the abdomen, but also radiate to the back. Diarrhea is considered a secondary symptom.
• Chronic enteritis and colitis. In this case, diarrhea appears first, and then pain in the abdomen and lower back.
• Intestinal infections. The symptoms described above are usually accompanied by a rise in temperature.
• Intestinal obstruction. Diarrhea alternates with constipation, lower back pain is of a reflected nature and is a secondary symptom.
• Menstrual cycle disorders.
• Appendicitis. Pain may radiate to the back and lower back. Diarrhea does not always occur.
• Inflammation of the ovaries. Pain may be localized in the lower abdomen, radiating to the back and sacrum. Diarrhea is reflexive due to inflammation of the organ located near the intestines, not associated with food intake.
• Cystitis, prostatitis (the situation is identical).

When pain is reflected in the lumbar region, it is very important to note which part of the body the pain radiates to. If it is localized in the lower back, it is more likely to be a bowel disease. Pain reflected in the upper lumbar segments is typical for inflammation of the stomach and pancreas. But pain in the sacrum may indicate various pathologies of the pelvic organs, including bowel disease.

But let's return to such symptoms as abdominal pain and diarrhea. If you pay attention to the localization of pain in the abdominal area, you need to specify its location, because the abdomen is an elastic concept, and pain in the lower or upper part of it can indicate various disorders and diseases.

Pain in the upper abdomen and diarrhea are typical symptoms of food poisoning. But substances that cause intoxication and irritation of the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines can provoke spasmodic and acute pain not only in the upper segments of the abdomen, but also in other areas.

No less often, such localization of pain characterizes ulcerative lesion of the stomach (popularly it is called a stomach ulcer). And the associated disturbances in the absorption of nutrients and enzymes provoke the appearance of diarrhea.

Chronic pancreatitis is characterized by enzyme deficiency, which causes digestive and stool disorders (both constipation and diarrhea may occur). The pain is localized in the upper abdomen, closer to the waist, and is often encircling. An identical picture is observed in cholecystitis due to the disruption of the outflow of bile, which is involved in the digestive process.

With irritable bowel syndrome, pain can be localized in the upper and lower abdomen or concentrated around the navel.

The appearance of a fever against this background may again indicate serious food poisoning (fever is usually caused by bacteria that have entered the intestines), an exacerbation of a peptic ulcer or gastritis, or acute pancreatitis.

Lower abdominal pain and diarrhea usually indicate intestinal diseases. This may be inflammation, ulceration or tumor processes in the distal parts of the organ, intestinal dysbacteriosis, helminthiasis, manifestations of internal hemorrhoids, appendicitis. Sometimes such symptoms occur against the background of food intolerance (for example, with celiac disease) or insufficiency of digestive enzymes (pancreatitis, cholecystitis, etc.). In this case, there is a rumbling in the lower abdomen, a feeling of intestinal fullness, increased gas formation, nausea.

When the pancreas malfunctions, cramping pains in the lower abdomen may occur, which increase and resolve with diarrhea (usually a single one with a large amount of feces). But sometimes the urge can be repeated at short intervals 2-3 times until the intestines are completely emptied. The process of defecation is often accompanied by severe nausea and vomiting, cold sweat on the body, dizziness, and cyanosis.

You can also suspect a common stomach disorder due to an unhealthy diet. Overeating and eating incompatible foods, overindulging in fresh baked goods and sweets, eating a lot of berries and fruits can provoke fermentation processes in the intestines, which will be accompanied by mild pain, increased gas formation and diarrhea.

Women have internal genital organs in the lower abdomen, so gynecological problems should not be ignored. Such a combination of symptoms can be caused by cervical cancer, ovarian inflammation, cysts, polyposis, etc. Any inflammatory process near the intestines can cause irritation and diarrhea. Lower abdominal pain accompanied by diarrhea can occur before or during menstruation, but in this case we are not talking about a disease.

Some women say that they experienced such quickly passing symptoms at the very beginning of pregnancy, while for others they were associated with a problematic pregnancy and the threat of miscarriage.

Constant heaviness and pain in the lower abdomen, alternating diarrhea and constipation are often observed in women (less often in men) who have decided to quit such a bad habit as smoking. Usually the situation is resolved with the help of a suitable diet and taking laxatives during constipation.

The symptoms described are considered a common clinical picture of irritable bowel syndrome. Pain in the upper abdomen with this disease is observed less often than those that occur near the navel or in the lower part.

Diarrhea and abdominal pain on the left may indicate stomach diseases (gastritis, ulcers and stomach cancer) and pancreas. However, with pancreatitis, the picture of pain is somewhat blurred, because they can be encircling, radiate to the right side or give to the back.

Pain in the lower left quadrant of the abdomen is usually associated with a pathological process in the intestines or female reproductive system, localized in this part of the abdomen.

The same can be said about abdominal pain on the right and diarrhea. The localization of pain indicates the location of the lesion, and diarrhea occurs due to irritation of the intestines during its inflammation or an inflammatory process in a nearby organ. Pain in the lower quadrant of the abdomen on the right often signals an inflamed appendix, and appendicitis can be suspected. This is the diagnosis that should come to mind first, since we are dealing with a very dangerous condition that requires emergency care.

If we are not talking about appendicitis, then it could be an inflammatory bowel disease localized on the right, echoes of Crohn's disease, helminthiasis. An identical picture is observed during menstruation or ectopic pregnancy.

If pain appears in the upper abdomen, it is possible that the liver or gall bladder is affected, which are also involved in the digestive process. The inflammatory process in these organs leads to pain and stagnation of bile, which does not enter the intestines and this leads to failures in the digestive process (hence diarrhea with specific fatty feces).

As for the pancreas, when it is inflamed, it can cause pain in both the right and left sides of the abdomen (this is the location of the organ). If the inflammatory process is in the right part, then the pain will be felt there or will be diffuse.

Abdominal pain and diarrhea can be signs of many diseases of various organs. The localization of pain in most cases can tell us where exactly the affected area is, but it will be much more difficult to determine which organ is sick. Sometimes the problem lies so deep that we don’t even think about it.

For example, abdominal pain on the right and diarrhea sometimes occur with inflammation of the lungs and pleura (pneumonia and pleurisy). In this case, we may experience pain in the upper abdomen and not associate diarrhea with this pain. But where does diarrhea come from with pathologies of the respiratory system? The reason is that the digestive system (and in particular some parts of our incredibly long intestine) is located in close proximity to the lower parts of the respiratory system, so the inflammatory process in the lungs and pleura can become an irritant for the intestine.

During the treatment of pneumonia and pleurisy, the patient will most likely have to undergo a course of antibiotic therapy. This may disrupt the intestinal microflora and cause symptoms of dysbacteriosis (diarrhea is one of them).

Self-diagnosis based on the nature of pain

As we can see, the localization of pain is very important for making a preliminary diagnosis, and yet it does not give a complete answer to the question of which organ exactly there are problems with. But maybe the nature of the pain will give us more information?

Aching pain in the abdomen and diarrhea in most cases indicate the development of nonspecific ulcerative colitis. In chronic cases, the pain is constant and dull, and during an exacerbation, it can become nagging or cutting. If pain is felt in the upper abdomen, it may also indicate diseases of the stomach (gastritis or ulcer), liver (hepatitis), or gallbladder (cholecystitis). Aching pain is observed at the very beginning of the disease and when it becomes chronic.

If we are talking about the lower abdomen in women, then pain of this nature usually appears on the eve of menstruation or with sluggish inflammation in the vagina, ovaries, uterus. Sometimes a problematic pregnancy makes itself known this way.

Dull abdominal pain and diarrhea may be observed with chronic cholecystitis and biliary dyskinesia, when an insufficient amount of bile enters the intestine. The dull nature of the pain is not a dangerous symptom, because we are talking about chronic pathologies (usually outside of periods of exacerbation). And yet, if the process is increasing, it is worth taking a more serious look at your health.

Acute abdominal pain and diarrhea indicate an acute form of the disease or a probable exacerbation of a chronic one. Acute stabbing or cutting pain is observed with appendicitis, exacerbation of gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer (this is a characteristic symptom of a perforated ulcer) or an attack of gastritis.

An identical situation is observed with intestinal and hepatic colic, rotavirus gastroenteritis. Acute pancreatitis or cholecystitis are also accompanied by acute pain, and the duration of pain will be much longer.

In oncological diseases, pain in the area of the tumor is usually of a nagging nature, but with movement it can intensify and become acute.

Acute cutting pains in the abdomen and diarrhea are frequent signs of poisoning and intestinal infections. For example, such a symptom is often observed in dysentery. But one should not reject helminth infection either.

Women who quit smoking often complain of cutting pain in the lower abdomen.

Of particular interest are cramping abdominal pains and diarrhea. Normally, they can appear in pregnant women shortly before childbirth or during menstruation.

But such pains can also indicate pathological processes in the body. So, in autoimmune diseases with hereditary intolerance to products containing certain substances, the pains are precisely of a spastic nature. They are not constant, but cramping.

Cramping pains can also be observed with pancreatic diarrhea, food poisoning, intestinal infections (with acute dysentery), enteritis. Sometimes such pains are observed with appendicitis, and in women they can be evidence of an ectopic pregnancy.

The same pains often accompany irritable bowel syndrome and are a consequence of stress.

If we describe the nature of the pain, we also need to pay attention to its strength. Severe abdominal pain and diarrhea are already a serious signal of ill health, regardless of what kind of pain: sharp or dull, cramping with breaks or constant. Even if such pain is observed in a woman or a girl during menstruation, in most cases they do not indicate a low pain threshold, but a hidden pathology of the genitourinary system, because even a small inflammation is no longer considered normal.