|  | Conditions Treatments | Digestive Health

What Are the Causes of Colon Pain?

Located in the lower abdomen, the colon handles the absorption of water, fat-soluble vitamins and potassium. Colon pain can result from conditions originating in the colon or may occur because of referred pain from nearby organs.

  1. Irritable Bowel Syndrome

    • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a collection of symptoms affecting the intestines. In addition to abdominal pain, IBS presents with excessive gas and bloating, nausea and alternating constipation and diarrhea. According to E Medicine Health, stress, hormonal factors and certain foods may aggravate symptoms.

    Bacterial And Viral Infection

    • According to Mayo Clinic, common symptoms of viral gastroenteritis include abdominal cramping and pain. Food poisoning caused by E. coli, salmonella or other types of bacteria may cause similar symptoms. In addition to colon pain, viral and bacterial infections often cause vomiting, diarrhea and fever.

    Inflammatory Bowel Disease

    • Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, includes autoimmune digestive diseases such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and celiac disease. Symptoms of these conditions are often similar and may include abdominal pain, blood in the stool, weight loss and chronic diarrhea.

    Colon Cancer

    • In rare instances, colon cancer can cause colon pain. According to Mayo Clinic, persistent abdominal pain is a possible symptom of colon cancer. Risk factors for colon cancer include being over 50 and having colon polyps or longstanding inflammatory bowel disease.

    Considerations

    • Pain that feels like it comes from the colon may actually originate in another part of the body. Referred colon pain can stem from other organs such as the kidneys or appendix and may signal a serious underlying condition.

Digestive Health - Related Articles