Causes of mild pain in the right upper abdomen
The right upper abdomen has been experiencing intermittent dull pain for a period of time. I originally thought it would improve on its own, but there has been no improvement. I would like to know what is causing this.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dull pain in the right upper abdomen may be caused by trauma, cholecystitis, gallstones, hepatitis, pleuritis, and other conditions.
Trauma can cause local soft tissue damage in the right upper quadrant, leading to dull pain during the recovery process. From a digestive system perspective, cholecystitis is relatively common, often resulting from obstruction of the cystic duct or bacterial infection. After consuming fatty foods, gallbladder contraction intensifies, potentially worsening the pain, which may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
Gallstones can also cause dull pain in the right upper abdomen; the stones may irritate the gallbladder or bile ducts, causing spasmodic pain. Additionally, during hepatitis flare-ups, the liver becomes congested and enlarged, stretching the liver capsule and causing dull pain, which may be accompanied by symptoms such as fatigue, reduced appetite, and jaundice.
From other perspectives, pleuritis affecting the right upper abdominal area can also cause dull pain, typically accompanied by chest pain and coughing. Subphrenic abscess under the right diaphragm can similarly cause dull pain in the right upper abdomen due to inflammatory irritation of the phrenic nerve; patients may also experience systemic symptoms such as fever and chills.
If dull pain in the right upper abdomen persists or worsens, prompt medical attention is essential to determine the underlying cause through abdominal ultrasound, blood tests, and other diagnostic methods, to avoid delaying treatment.
