There are many causes of intense stomach or abdominal pain. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health or NIH, abdominal pain can be acute or chronic. Acute abdominal pain is usually more severe than chronic abdominal pain, although chronic abdominal pain can significantly affect a person's quality of life. Abdominal pain can be caused by any structure, including organs, within the abdominal cavity, an abdominal organs can refer pain to other parts of the body.
Peritonitis
Peritonitis can cause intense abdominal pain. According to the Mayo Clinic website, peritonitis occurs when the peritoneum---a membrane that covers the inner abdominal wall and organs---becomes infected by bacteria or fungi. Common causes of peritoneal infection include peritoneal fluid accumulation, inflammation or injury. Peritonitis requires immediate medical attention to keep the infection from spreading and to treat any underlying pathology or conditions that may be contributing to the infection. The biomedical approach to treating peritonitis involves the use of antibiotics and surgery, if necessary. If peritonitis is left unchecked, this life-threatening infection can spread throughout the body. Common signs and symptoms associated with peritonitis include the following: intense abdominal pain, abdominal tenderness, sensations of abdominal fullness, nausea and vomiting, anorexia or loss of appetite, fatigue and an inability to defecate.
Intussusception
Intussusception can cause intense abdominal pain. The National Institutes of Health or NIH states that intussusception is the sliding or telescoping of one section of the intestine into another. Intussusception is a serious health condition that requires immediate medical intervention. If intussusception occurs, it can obstruct the passage of food through the intestine, and if blood supply to the affected area is cut off, that segment of the intestine can perish. Reduced blood flow to the involved intestinal segment, along with swelling and irritation, are common complications associated with intussusception. If a hole or perforation develops in the intestine, this can quickly lead to infection, shock and dehydration in the affected individual. According to the Mayo Clinic website, common signs and symptoms of intussusception include severe, intermittent abdominal pain, bloody stools, abdominal swelling, vomiting, diarrhea and fever.
Food Poisoning
Food poisoning can cause intense abdominal pain. According to the National Association of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases or NIDDK, a division of the National Institutes of Health, foodborne illnesses occur when a person consumes food or beverages contaminated with bacteria, parasites, viruses or chemicals. Common signs and symptoms associated with foodborne illnesses include intense abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever and dehydration. Foodborne illnesses are often mistaken for a bout of intestinal flu, which shares many of the same signs and symptoms. Approximately 76 million Americans experience foodborne illness each year, and about 5,000 of these people die. According to the NIDDK, some individuals have a greater risk for food poisoning, including the elderly, the very young, expecting mothers and their unborn children and people with compromised immune systems.
