Acute Abdomen

The medical term for persistent, severe abdominal pain, of sudden onset, that is usually associated with spasm of the abdominal muscles, vomiting, and fever.
Causes: The most common cause of an acute abdomen is peritonitis (inflammation of the membrane that lines the abdomen); underlying causes include appendicitis, abdominal injury, or perforation of an internal organ as a result of disorders such as diverticular disease (the presence of small, protruding pouches in the intestinal wall) or peptic ulcer.
Symptoms: Acute abdomen commonly begins as a vague pain in the centre of the abdomen that gradually localizes to a particular region of the body, depending on the condition. For example, pain is felt on the right side of the body in appendicitis.
Diagnosis and Treatment: An acute abdomen requires urgent medi¬ cal investigation usually comprising detailed questioning about the condition a, physical examination, laboratory tests, and imaging procedures such as ultrasound scanning. The investigation may also involve a laparoscopy (internal examination using a rigid or flexible viewing tube) or a laparotomy (surgical exploration of the abdomen). Treatment depends on the underlying cause.