Abdominal pain and diarrhoea often occur together. Usually the abdominal pain sets in first, followed by diarrhoea later. In most cases, these symptoms indicate a gastrointestinal infection, in which case vomiting is often added as a further symptom. However, abdominal pain and diarrhoea can also have other causes. If the symptoms persist for longer than a few days or are very severe, a doctor should be consulted for safety reasons.
Symptoms
Abdominal pain can manifest itself in different ways. They can be spasmodic (colicky), permanent or increasingly severe (progressive). Those affected often try to achieve pain relief by changing their posture.
Abdominal pain that comes from the intestines cannot usually be assigned to a precise place of origin; it is diffusely distributed and radiates into large parts of the abdominal cavity. By medical definition, diarrhoea is defined as having a stool weight of more than 250g per day with more than three bowel movements per day. In addition, the water content of the stool must be above 75%, i.e. the stool must be very liquid.
In many cases, abdominal pain and diarrhoea are accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, general malaise, sweating or even fever. Depending on the cause, different symptoms appear one after the other or together. In general, abdominal pain can occur in any position of the body. Some patients complain of abdominal pain in a sitting position, for example.
Cause
The causes of abdominal pain and diarrhoea can vary greatly, but in most cases it is an infection of the gastrointestinal tract. This can be caused by viruses as well as bacteria. These enter the body through contaminated food or drinks, for example, and can then multiply in the digestive tract.
Especially when vomiting is added to the symptoms mentioned, this is a good indication of a gastrointestinal infection. Abdominal pain and diarrhoea can also be caused by food intolerance. Milk protein allergy (lactose intolerance) is particularly common.
The body of the affected person does not have enough of the enzyme that breaks down lactose in the intestine. As a result, more lactose remains in the intestine, which means that more fluid gets into the intestine. This leads to diarrhoea and rumbling in the stomach.
Other possible causes of abdominal pain and diarrhoea are chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis). These diseases are autoimmune diseases that attack the intestine. Abdominal cramps, diarrhoea and many other symptoms occur intermittently.
Diseases of the pancreas, such as pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), must also be considered. Another common trigger for the symptoms are psychological factors. People who are very stressed out at work or in their private lives can also develop these symptoms; hence the saying “It hits me in the stomach“.
(If the symptoms persist for a long time, occur repeatedly and cannot be explained by an organic cause, they are also called irritable bowel syndrome. Finally, stomach pain and diarrhoea can also be caused by malignant diseases, such as intestinal cancer. At the beginning, however, this usually shows few symptoms and often leads to changing stool habits, i.e. an alternation between diarrhoea and constipation.
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