Differential Diagnosis for Abdominal Pain after Meal
- Single most likely diagnosis
- Peptic Ulcer Disease: This is a common cause of abdominal pain that occurs after meals, especially if the pain is related to the ingestion of food. The pain is typically localized to the epigastric region and can be exacerbated by certain types of food or by lying down.
- Other Likely diagnoses
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): Symptoms of GERD can include abdominal pain after eating, especially if the pain is accompanied by heartburn or regurgitation.
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): While IBS can cause a variety of symptoms, abdominal pain after meals is common, especially if the pain is associated with changes in bowel habits.
- Functional Dyspepsia: This condition is characterized by recurring abdominal pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen that is not explained by other medical conditions, and it can be triggered by eating.
- Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed.)
- Acute Mesenteric Ischemia: Although rare, this condition is life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Abdominal pain after meals can be a symptom, especially if the pain is severe and accompanied by other symptoms like nausea and vomiting.
- Pancreatitis: Acute pancreatitis can cause severe abdominal pain that radiates to the back and can be triggered by eating, especially fatty foods.
- Intestinal Obstruction: This is a medical emergency that can cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and constipation. While not all cases are related to eating, some types of obstruction can be exacerbated by food intake.
- Rare diagnoses
- Gastric Cancer: Abdominal pain after meals can be a symptom of gastric cancer, although this is relatively rare and usually accompanied by other symptoms like weight loss and difficulty swallowing.
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's Disease or Ulcerative Colitis): While these conditions can cause abdominal pain, they are less likely to be directly triggered by meals compared to other symptoms like diarrhea or blood in stool.
- Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis: A rare condition characterized by eosinophilic infiltration of the gastrointestinal tract, which can cause abdominal pain after eating among other symptoms.