Question

When a 35-year-old female patient is admitted to the emergency department with acute abdominal pain, which possible diagnosis should you consider that may be the cause of her pain (select all that apply)?

a. Gastroenteritis
b. Ectopic pregnancy
c. GI bleeding
d. Irritable bowel syndrome
e. Inflammatory bowel disease

Answer 1

Potential diagnoses for a 35-year-old female presenting with acute abdominal pain include gastroenteritis, ectopic pregnancy, GI bleeding, irritable bowel syndrome, and inflammatory bowel disease. The clinician should also consider other causes like diverticulitis, food poisoning, and peritonitis.

Step-by-step explanation:

When considering a 35-year-old female patient presenting with acute abdominal pain, multiple possible diagnoses should be considered:

• Gastroenteritis: This is an inflammation of the stomach and intestines typically presenting with symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort.
• Ectopic pregnancy: This is a potentially life-threatening condition where a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, often causing abdominal pain and spotting.
• GI bleeding: Gastrointestinal bleeding could be indicated by symptoms such as blood in the stool or vomit, and severe abdominal pain.
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): This is a chronic condition that affects the large intestine, causing cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea or constipation.
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): This encompasses conditions such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, which cause chronic inflammation of the GI tract, resulting in symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and sometimes bleeding.

Aside from these possibilities, the clinician should also consider other causes such as diverticulitis, food poisoning, peritonitis, and infections which may present with similar symptoms of abdominal pain.