Differential Diagnosis for Low Abdominal Pain
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Constipation: This is often the most common cause of low abdominal pain, especially if the pain is accompanied by changes in bowel habits, bloating, or difficulty passing stools.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): Characterized by recurring abdominal pain associated with a change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea or constipation, without an identifiable cause.
- Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): Can cause lower abdominal pain, especially if the infection has moved up to the kidneys (pyelonephritis).
- Ovarian Cysts: In women, ovarian cysts can cause low abdominal pain, especially if the cyst ruptures or twists (torsion).
- Diverticulitis: Inflammation of the diverticula in the digestive tract, which can cause pain in the lower left abdomen.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Appendicitis: Although it typically presents with pain in the right lower quadrant, appendicitis can sometimes cause lower abdominal pain if the appendix is located in a retrocecal position.
- Ectopic Pregnancy: A pregnancy that develops outside the uterus, which can cause severe abdominal pain and is a medical emergency.
- Ruptured Ovarian Cyst: Can cause severe pain and internal bleeding, requiring immediate medical attention.
- Intestinal Obstruction: A blockage in the intestine that can cause severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and constipation.
Rare Diagnoses
- Endometriosis: A condition where tissue similar to the lining inside the uterus grows outside of it, causing pain, especially during menstruation.
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Conditions like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis can cause chronic abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weight loss.
- Lymphoma: A type of cancer that can cause abdominal pain, swelling, and weight loss, though it's less common as a primary cause of low abdominal pain.
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: A swelling of the main blood vessel that leads from the heart and passes through the abdomen, which can cause abdominal pain and is a medical emergency if it ruptures.