Abdominal pain is the pain stemming from the inside of the abdomen or the outer muscle
wall. Abdominal pain is felt in more than half of the belly and ranges from mild, temporary, and
severe. The possible causes of abdominal pain include pregnancy, urinary tract infection,
inflammation of the gallbladder, ulcers, and appendicitis (Bickley, 2021). Abdominal Pain Differential Diagnosis

One of the initial steps I would complete in assessing a patient with abdominal pain is to
have the patient empty his/her bladder and then lie with the head slightly elevated. I would then
stand by the patient’s right side and examine the abdomen both from the side and above. This
would help me determine whether the abdomen is flat or protuberant (Dunlap & Patterson,
2020). The next step is to assess for any possible bulging, visible mass, or asymmetry (Dunlap &
Patterson, 2020). This means looking for scars, unusual coloring, petechiae, or any suspicious-
looking moles. The third step is to look for pulsations, which are often present in thin patients,
especially in the patient’s epigastric area and possibly peristaltic waves (Dunlap & Patterson,
2020). Abdominal Pain Differential Diagnosis;  Read more
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is one of the differential diagnoses for a patient with
abdominal pain. IBD is a term referring to all conditions that involve chronic inflammation of
your digestive tract (Khan et al., 2019). Patients with this condition experience cramping pain
and are often felt in the lower right abdomen but can be felt anywhere else along the digestive
tract. IBD can be treated using anti-inflammatory drugs such as aminosalicylates and
corticosteroids (Khan et al., 2019). The most effective way to prevent the development of IBD
includes eating nutrient-rich foods, drinking plenty of liquids, limiting dairy products intake,
regular exercises, and quitting smoking (Khan et al., 2019). Abdominal Pain Differential Diagnosis;

The second differential diagnosis for a patient with abdominal pain is an aortic aneurysm.
An aortic aneurysm is a condition characterized by a balloon-like bulge developing in the aorta.
The treatment of IBD differs greatly from Aortic aneurysm as the former is treated using
medications and the latter through surgeries. For instance, one of the commonly used methods in
the treatment of Aortic aneurysm is open-chest surgery. It entails the removal of damaged part of
the aorta and instead replacing it with a graft. The condition can also be treated using open
repair, a surgery involving a large incision in the abdomen to expose the aorta. The third option
in treating aortic aneurysm Endovascular repair (EVAR), which is done through a hole in the
blood vessels made in the groin. An aortic aneurysm can be prevented through regular exercises,
a healthy diet, and quitting smoking. Abdominal Pain Differential Diagnosis;