Abdominal Pain
Questions to Ask
How long has it been going on? What makes it feel better? What makes it feel worse? Can you describe the pain? (Cramps, sharpness, etc.) Does it radiate? How is your appetite? Does the pain worsen with certain food?
Questions to Ask
Have you seen a doctor for it? Are you taking any medication? Is anyone else in your family experiencing the same problems? Bowel movements?
Physical Examination
Palpate the abdominal region, listen for abnormal sounds
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Right Upper
Liver, Pancreas, Kidney, and Lung Appendix, Ureter, Bladder, Colon, and Gonads Heart, Spleen, Kidney, Stomach, and Lung Ureter, Bladder, Colon, and Gonads
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Right Lower
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Left Upper
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Left Lower
Parasites
Questions to Ask & Physical Examination
Similar to abdominal questions Check for distended belly
Remember to ask for the number of people in the family, usually if one has parasites, they all do
Hookworms
What?
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Worm that lives in upper small bowel
Cause:
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Sometimes contaminated soil allows for larval penetration
Hookworms
Symptoms
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Anemia
Roundworms
What?
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Worm that lives in small intestine
Causes
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Contaminated food
Coughing, difficulty breathing, chest pain (due to larval migration to lungs)
Symptoms
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Pinworms
What?
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Small white, thread like worms
Causes
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Ingested eggs
Usually asymptomatic When symptomatic, itching in vaginal “Itchy butt” Difficulty sleeping at night
Symptoms
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Whipworms
What?
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Whip-like worms
Causes
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Ingested eggs from soil
Usually asymptomatic Heavy cases may cause bloody diarrhea
Symptoms
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Tapeworms
What?
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Segmented worms that passes through the stool
Causes
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Eating meat that has been infected
Abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea
Symptoms
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