Abdominal pain is any that you feel anywhere between your chest and groin, in the stomach region or belly. Abdominal pain is one of the most common reasons to seek endoscopic evaluation. It can come from multiple different sources, the most common of which is the GI tract. Your physician may want to evaluate abdominal pain with an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) or a colonoscopy to rule out any serious illness.
Possible gastrointestinal causes of abdominal pain include the following
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Excessive gas
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Chronic constipation
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Intolerance to milk and milk products
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Viral gastrointestinitis ("stomach flu")
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Irritable bowel syndrome (sensitive stomach, with intermittent episodes of diarrhea and constipation)
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Heartburn or Indigestion
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Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)
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Ulcers
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Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder), with or without gallstones
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Appendicitis (inflammation of the appendix)
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Diverticular disease (small pouches that form in the large intestines [diverticulosis], which might be inflammed [diverticulitis])
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Bowel obstruction; in addition to pain, this causes nausea, bloating, vomiting,
and inability to pass gas or stool
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Food poisoning (e.g. salmonella, shigella, etc.)
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Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
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Telescoping Intestines (Intussusception) while uncommon, this is a serious possible cause of pain in an infant who may be drawing his or her knees to the chest, and crying to indicate the pain
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Parasite infections (e.g. Giardia) Inflammatory bowel disease (i.e. Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis)
