Differential Diagnosis for Abdominal Pain after Drinking Alcohol
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Alcoholic gastritis: This condition is a common cause of abdominal pain after consuming alcohol. The ethanol in alcohol irritates the stomach lining, leading to inflammation and pain.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): Alcohol can relax the lower esophageal sphincter, allowing stomach acid to flow back into the esophagus and cause pain.
- Peptic ulcer disease: Alcohol can irritate the stomach lining and worsen existing ulcers, leading to abdominal pain.
- Pancreatitis: Alcohol is a common cause of pancreatitis, which can lead to severe abdominal pain.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Mallory-Weiss syndrome: This condition involves tears in the mucous membrane of the lower end of the esophagus, which can be caused by intense vomiting after alcohol consumption.
- Hemorrhagic gastritis: Severe bleeding in the stomach lining can occur after alcohol consumption, leading to abdominal pain and potentially life-threatening bleeding.
- Intestinal obstruction: Although less common, intestinal obstruction can be caused by adhesions or other complications related to chronic alcohol abuse.
Rare Diagnoses
- Carcinoid syndrome: A rare condition where a tumor in the small intestine produces serotonin, which can cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, and flushing after consuming alcohol.
- Hereditary fructose intolerance: A rare genetic disorder where the body is unable to metabolize fructose, which can cause abdominal pain after consuming alcohol that contains fructose.
- Asian flush syndrome: A condition where individuals of East Asian descent experience facial flushing, abdominal pain, and other symptoms after consuming alcohol due to a genetic variation in alcohol metabolism.