Diagnosis and treatment of abdominal pain – 
Polish experts’ position

Konrad Lewandowski; Agnieszka Mastalerz-Migas; Ewa Małecka-Wojciesko; Jarosław Woroń; Barbara Skrzydło-Radomańska; Grażyna Rydzewska

eISSN: 2450-4459
ISSN: 2450-3517

Lekarz POZ

Current issue Archive Manuscripts accepted About the journal Supplements Abstracting and indexing Subscription Contact Instructions for authors Publication charge

Editorial System

Submit your Manuscript

1/2025
vol. 11

Send email

Copy url:

abstract:

Guidelines/recommendations

Diagnosis and treatment of abdominal pain – Polish experts’ position

Konrad Lewandowski

¹

,

Agnieszka Mastalerz-Migas

²

,

Ewa Małecka-Wojciesko

³

,

Jarosław Woroń

^{4, 5}

,

Barbara Skrzydło-Radomańska

⁶

,

Grażyna Rydzewska

^{1, 7}

Klinika Gastroenterologii i Chorób Wewnętrznych, Państwowy Instytut Medyczny MSWiA w Warszawie
Katedra i Zakład Medycyny Rodzinnej, Uniwersytet Medyczny we Wrocławiu
Katedra Chorób Przewodu Pokarmowego, Wydział Lekarski, Uniwersytet Medyczny w Łodzi
Zakład Farmakologii Klinicznej Katedry Farmakologii Wydziału Lekarskiego, Uniwersytet Jagielloński Collegium Medicum w Krakowie
Oddział Anestezjologii i Intensywnej Terapii, Szpital Uniwersytecki w Krakowie
Katedra Gastroenterologii, Uniwersytet Medyczny w Lublinie
Wydział Lekarski i Nauk o Zdrowiu, Uniwersytet Jana Kochanowskiego w Kielcach

Online publish date: 2025/03/05

View full text Get citation

Abdominal pain is one of the most common symptoms reported in medical offices, with its prevalence in the population reaching up to 81%. Due to its complex etiology, it can have both organic and functional origins, which represents a clinical challenge. The diagnosis of abdominal pain should include a thorough medical history, physical examination, and laboratory and imaging tests to differentiate potential causes. Special attention should be given to abdominal pain of mild to moderate intensity, which is the most frequent. Pharmacotherapy for such abdominal pain is a key element of treatment and should primarily rely on the use of antispasmodic medications, and in cases of ineffectiveness, pain relievers or a combination of both. Their high safety profile enables their use in self-treatment by patients, but certainly requires improvement in patient education regarding the presence of alarm symptoms and the necessity of medical consult. Additionally, an effective option, particularly in cases of chronic abdominal pain, may be antidepressants from the class of serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants. The aim of this article is to develop definitions, a diagnostic and therapeutic management algorithm for physicians, and a selftreatment algorithm for patients.

keywords:

Diagnosis and treatment of abdominal pain – Polish experts’ position

Konrad Lewandowski 1 , Agnieszka Mastalerz-Migas 2 , Ewa Małecka-Wojciesko 3 , Jarosław Woroń 4, 5 , Barbara Skrzydło-Radomańska 6 , Grażyna Rydzewska 1, 7

abdominal pain, functional disorders, metamizole, drotaverine

Konrad Lewandowski

¹

,

Agnieszka Mastalerz-Migas

²

,

Ewa Małecka-Wojciesko

³

,

Jarosław Woroń

^{4, 5}

,

Barbara Skrzydło-Radomańska

⁶

,

Grażyna Rydzewska

^{1, 7}