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SYMPTOMS |
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DIAGNOSIS |
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SELF-CARE |
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| 1. Do you have
severe, constant and dull pain, severe
knife-like pain or severe, cramping abdominal
pain? |
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Go
to Question 6.* |
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2. Do you have any of the following
symptoms?
- Is your stomach very tender to
touch?
- Do you have bloody diarrhea?
- Are you vomiting blood or do you
have black, tarry bowel movements?
- Do you have a temperature above
101°?
- Do you have a history of
diverticulosis or previous abdominal
surgery?
- Are you pregnant or believe you
might be pregnant?
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You probably have a serious problem and
should contact your doctor right away. You
may have one of the following:
- APPENDICITIS
- INFECTIOUS DIARRHEA
- BLEEDING FROM THE BOWELS
- PERFORATED APPENDIX, DIVERTICULA or
ULCER
- MISCARRIAGE or ECTOPIC PREGNANCY
- PANCREATITIS
- BOWEL BLOCKAGE
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CALL YOUR DOCTOR RIGHT
AWAY OR GO TO THE HOSPITAL. |
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| 3. Does the
pain start on the right upper abdomen and go
through to the back, or does fatty or greasy
food bring on this pain? |
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You may have
GALLSTONES or an INFECTION of the
gallbladder. |
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See your doctor
promptly. |
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| 4. Does the
pain start in the back near the ribs and move
down toward the groin, or is the pain
knife-like, searing and does its severity come
and go, or is there blood in the urine? |
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Your pain may
be from a KIDNEY STONE or TUMOR. If you have a
fever, you may also have a KIDNEY or
BLADDER INFECTION. |
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See your doctor
promptly. |
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| 5. Do you ever
have blood or mucus in your bowel movements? |
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This may be
from
ULCERATIVE COLITIS or from
CROHN'S DISEASE, inflammatory diseases of
the colon or large intestine. An INFECTION can
also cause bloody diarrhea. |
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See your
doctor. |
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| *6.
Do you have a mild ache or burning pain in
the upper abdomen, or cramping pain that comes
and goes? |
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Go to Question 10.** |
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| 7. Do you have
fever, diarrhea, aches, chills, nausea or
vomiting? |
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You probably
have GASTROENTERITIS, or the stomach flu. Severe
cases can lead to dehydration in infants and
young children. |
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Use
fever-reducing medicines. (Don't give children
aspirin without consulting your doctor.) Call
your doctor if you see any blood or mucus in the
diarrhea, or if you have excessive diarrhea.
Call your doctor if your child has signs of
dehydration: lethargy, dry mouth, decreased
urination. |
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| 8. Has it been
a few days or longer since you have had a bowel
movement? |
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CONSTIPATION may be the source of your
discomfort. Occasionally a child will hold a
bowel movement because of pain from a
HEMORRHOID or an ANAL FISSURE. |
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Try a
bulk-forming laxative. Children should be given
a glycerin suppository for a laxative. See your
doctor if the pain or constipation continues. |
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| 9. Do you have
a pain or "burning" in the abdomen that is
relieved by eating? |
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This may be
from simple GASTRITIS, an irritation of the
stomach, or from an
ULCER. |
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Try an antacid
on a regular basis. See your doctor if this is
ineffective or if the pain comes back quickly. |
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| **10.
Are you a woman who has a
constant pain in the lower abdomen along with a
vaginal discharge? |
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A dull,
constant pain accompanied by a discharge may be
from an INFECTION around your ovaries, uterus
and fallopian tubes. |
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This condition
requires an antibiotic. See your doctor. |
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| 11. Do you have
lower abdominal pain that is worse with
urination? |
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Infection of
the urinary tract,
CYSTITIS, can be painful and cause abdominal
discomfort. |
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See your doctor
promptly. |
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| 12. Is the
person an infant who has constipation and then
produces large amounts of bowel movement? |
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This could be
due to a problem with the wall of the large
intestine, called HIRSCHSPRUNG'S DISEASE. |
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See your
doctor. |
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| If the pain doesn't stop
within a few hours, see your doctor. For more
information, please consult your doctor. If you
think your problem is serious, call right away. |
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