Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Abdominal distention
Introduction
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Synonyms and keywords: Distended abdomen; abdominal swelling; swelling in the abdomen; swollen belly
Overview
Overview
Abdominal distension is most commonly caused by gas or intolerance of certain foods, but sometimes it is a sign of a more serious underlying disease or condition. For this reason, if the abdominal distension is new, different, or does not respond to over-the-counter medications, it is recommended to see a physician.
Causes
Abdominal distension can be a sign of many conditions affecting many organ systems. [1] [2]
Treatment
Surgery
Surgery is done if the underlying cause is a bowel obstruction, a hernia or a tumor.
References
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Pathophysiology
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References
Causes
Overview
Abdominal distension (or “distended abdomen”) can be a sign of many conditions affecting many organ systems. [1] [2]
Causes
Common Causes
- Air swallowing (a nervous habit)
- Constipation
- Gastroesophageal reflux
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Lactose intolerance and other food intolerances
- Overeating
- Weight gain
Causes by Organ System
| Cardiovascular | |
| Chemical / poisoning | No underlying causes |
| Congenital |
Congenital hepatic porphyria, congenital megacolon, congenital short bowel, congenital tuberculosis, hirschsprung’s disease, Jirásek-Zuelzer-Wilson syndrome, meconium plug syndrome |
| Dermatologic | No underlying causes |
| Drug Side Effect |
Beractant, Caspofungin acetate, dexamethasone, febuxostat, Hydrocortisone, ibuprofen lysine, indinavir, pramipexole, rifaximin, atropine |
| Ear Nose Throat | No underlying causes |
| Endocrine | |
| Environmental | No underlying causes |
| Gastroenterologic |
Abdominal abscess, acute appendicitis, ascites, biliary Atresia, cirrhosis, colonic volvulus, constipation, diverticulitis, idiopathic sclerosing mesenteritis, ileus, large bowel obstruction, necrotizing enterocolitis, pancreatitis and complications (pseudocyst), peritoneal bleeding, peritonitis |
| Genetic | |
| Hematologic | |
| Iatrogenic |
Blind loop syndrome, colonic pseudo-obstruction (Ogilvie’s Syndrome) |
| Infectious Disease | |
| Musculoskeletal / Ortho | No underlying causes |
| Neurologic | No underlying causes |
| Nutritional / Metabolic |
Acute intermittent porphyria, hepatorenal tyrosinemia, lactose intolerance, overeating |
| Obstetric/Gynecologic | |
| Oncologic |
Granulosa cell tumor of the ovary, leukemia, lymphoma |
| Opthalmologic | No underlying causes |
| Overdose / Toxicity | No underlying causes |
| Psychiatric | No underlying causes |
| Pulmonary | No underlying causes |
| Renal / Electrolyte | |
| Rheum / Immune / Allergy | No underlying causes |
| Sexual | No underlying causes |
| Trauma |
Abdominal trauma with intra-abdominal bleeding |
| Urologic | No underlying causes |
| Miscellaneous |
Air swallowing (nervous habit), functional gas/constipation, gas/bloat syndrome, obesity, umbilical hernia or ventral hernia |
Causes in Alphabetical Order
References
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Differentiating Abdominal Distension from other Diseases
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References
Epidemiology and Demographics
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References
Risk Factors
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Risk Factors
- Female gender
- High body mass index or high BMI
References
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
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Complications
- Complications are few if the cause of the abdominal distension is gas or a dietary intolerance.
- Complications of celiac sprue include malnutrition.
- Some causes of abdominal distension can lead to death, such as an abdominal aortic aneurysm, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and ovarian cancer.
- Bowel obstruction can lead to bowel necrosis and death.
Prognosis
The outlook and prognosis for abdominal distension is fairly good if the cause is gas or a dietary intolerance. Prognosis is poor if ovarian cancer is the cause of the bloating, and varies with liver disease. Depending on the severity of the liver disease, Other causes will have a variable prognosis and is based on the diagnosis and the time at which the diagnosis is made.
References
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Diagnosis
Diagnosis
History and Symptoms | Physical Examination | Laboratory Findings | X Ray | CT | MRI | Ultrasound | Other Imaging Findings | Other Diagnostic Studies
Treatment
Treatment
Medical Therapy | Surgery | Primary Prevention | Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy | Future or Investigational Therapies
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]; M.Umer Tariq [3]