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A normal C-reactive protein in patients with abdominal pain more than 24 hours and the neutrophil count less than 75%, suggests that:

a) Appendicitis is likely
b) Diverticulitis is likely
c) Inflammatory Bowel Disease is likely
d) Further Testing is Needed

User Nbryans
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

A normal C-reactive protein and neutrophil count less than 75% in a patient with abdominal pain for more than 24 hours suggests that further testing is needed, as these findings do not point towards a clear diagnosis of appendicitis, diverticulitis, or inflammatory bowel disease.

Step-by-step explanation:

A normal C-reactive protein in patients with abdominal pain more than 24 hours and the neutrophil count less than 75% suggests that further testing is needed. C-reactive protein is a marker of inflammation in the body and is often elevated in conditions like appendicitis, diverticulitis, and inflammatory bowel disease. Since the C-reactive protein level is normal and the neutrophil count is less than 75%, it does not point towards a clear diagnosis, as these results do not strongly suggest an active inflammation commonly seen in these conditions.

Appendicitis is commonly associated with an elevated C-reactive protein and neutrophilia (a high neutrophil count), symptoms such as abdominal pain, possible fever, and other signs of infection. On the other hand, diverticulitis may present similarly, but the C-reactive protein might not always be elevated depending on the severity and timing of the infection. As for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), while it can present with abdominal pain, the neutrophil count is not a definitive diagnostic tool, and further diagnostic tests like colonoscopy or imaging might be needed for diagnosis. Therefore, in the absence of an elevated C-reactive protein and neutrophil count, it is not possible to reliably diagnose the cause of the abdominal pain, and further evaluation and possibly more specific diagnostic testing are indicated to determine the underlying cause.

User Numegil
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