Final answer:
The first action when treating a 22-year-old student with abdominal pain is to perform an extensive medical assessment and symptom review. This initial evaluation should consider her health history, recent travels, and previous treatments. Diagnostic tests such as a CT scan and ultrasound may be utilized to further investigate the potential causes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Given the scenario that a 22-year-old college student is experiencing abdominal pain, the first action should be to conduct a detailed assessment of the patient's symptoms. This includes obtaining a thorough health history, characterizing the pain, identifying any associated symptoms, and considering any recent travel or medical treatments that may have occurred. A comprehensive exam will help narrow down the causes, such as appendicitis, UTI, PID, complications post surgery, or infections that might have been contracted during travel.
Given the prior medical history provided, it's important to also consider the patient's recent travel to Mexico, which might suggest a gastrointestinal infection like traveler's diarrhea. Additionally, the background information about another patient's postoperative symptoms following a cholecystectomy, and Marisa's medical treatment in Vietnam, should prompt healthcare providers to consider complications related to medical treatment or recent procedures.
Diagnostically, exams such as a CT scan, blood work, abdominal ultrasound, and urine analysis are vital in investigating the cause of abdominal pain. These tests can detect signs of infection, inflammation, or other conditions that may explain the student's discomfort.