Duration and prognosis for abdominal pain at night
The duration and prognosis of abdominal pain occurring during the night can vary considerably depending on the cause. While a very good prognosis can be assumed for a simple gastro-enteritis or a urinary tract infection and a short duration of therapy, diseases such as HELLP syndrome can have a significantly worse prognosis in pregnant women. In many cases, early detection of the disease is also decisive for the duration and prognosis of the disease. If, for example, appendicitis is detected early, it can be treated surgically at an early stage and the prognosis can be assumed to be very good. Without a medical presentation or a late detection of the disease, there is a risk of a significantly more complicated course of the disease.
What are the possibilities to diagnose abdominal pain at night?
One of the best means of medical diagnostics is the collection of the medical history and physical examination. Here valuable information about the exact spectrum of symptoms, their course or already known diseases can be collected. In many cases, this information can already be used to make a suspected diagnosis.
There are numerous other methods to confirm this. For example, a laboratory examination of the blood is usually carried out, which can provide indications of inflammation or diseases such as HELLP syndrome. Furthermore, ultrasound is often performed to detect appendicitis or gallstones, for example.
In some cases, sectional imaging such as MRT or CT may also be necessary. In older women, the presence of a heart attack should still be ruled out if the symptoms are appropriate. This is because in women, heart attacks often present with diffuse symptoms. A suitable blood test (troponin test) as well as an ECG can be used for this purpose.
