In 2002, 110 million visits to the hospital emergency rooms were for abdominal pain, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Within the abdominal cavity are the spleen, appendix, gallbladder, liver, colon, pancreas and small bowel. Abdominal pain with fever can indicate some form of abdominal infection. There are multiple causes of abdominal pain with fever.
Appendicitis
At the beginning of the large intestine is the appendix, a small appendage that serves no functional purpose. The appendix can become inflamed when blocked by feces or an infection and may become gangrenous if left untreated. According to MedlinePlus, a publication of the National Institutes of Health, an appendectomy is one of the most common emergency surgeries done in the United States. Right lower quadrant abdominal pain with fever is always suspect for appendicitis. Patients may also have nausea, vomiting and anorexia. When the appendix ruptures there may be temporary relief from the pain, but pain will recur as the abdomen is exposed to the pus from the ruptured appendix.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Infection of the fallopian tubes or uterus with chlamydia or gonorrhea can cause lower abdominal pain and fever. Chlamydia and gonorrhea are sexually transmitted diseases. Symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease include pelvic and/or abdominal pain, mucopurulent vaginal discharge, fever, and painful urination, according to The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. Chlamydia infections may go undetected for prolonged periods until serious infection arises. Untreated chlamydia and gonorrhea infections can cause infertility due to scarring of the fallopian tubes.
Gallbladder Disease
The gallbladder was designed to process bile to aid in the digestion of fat. The liver makes bile and it is stored in the gallbladder. For unknown reasons, gallstones form and can occasionally get stuck in the duct that secretes the bile into the digestive tract. Women between the ages of 20 and 40 are most frequently affected by gallbladder disease, according to Penn Medicine, a publication of the University of Pennsylvania's medical system. Acute cholecystitis can present with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and fever. Symptoms of acute cholecystitis include right upper quadrant abdominal pain, particularly after a fatty meal, fever, nausea and vomiting.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: CDC releases latest data on emergency department visits.
- MedlinePlus: Appendicitis
- The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: Pelvic Pain: Approach to the Gynecologic Patient
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Fact Sheets: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- University of Penn: Gastrointestinal Surgery: Gall Bladder Disease
