Human Case Study
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A pediatric patient or his caregiver should be asked age-related
... [Show More] questions which focuses on age and etiological condition. These questions should be on acuteness and chronicity of bleeding, color and blood quantity noticed in the patient’s stool. Questions should also focus on antecedent symptoms, how the patient has been training and the presence of abdominal pain and trauma. Questions regarding the presence of blood in the patient’s stool should focus on the patient’s diet or drug or substance consumed that may result in this condition of bloody stool. The patient or caregiver should be asked questions on whether that patient has consumed substances like Kool-Aid, red licorice, antibiotics, or products that may be containing bismuth (Burns, Dunn, Brady, Starr, & Blosser, 2016).
Occult blood culture, Ova and parasite presence are associated with a pediatric patient with symptoms of blood in their stool. Other diagnostic tests can also be conducted depending on the observed symptoms in a patient or even the disease history of the patient. A patient with a prolonged or past medical history of bloody diarrhea should be subjected for tests regarding complete blood count, basic metabolic panel (BMP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) as well as c-Reactive protein test (Cheryl & Cash, 2014). These tests should come first before ordering for any radiation test as the condition may not be complicated to that extent and can be identified by these tests. For the abdominal pain, abdominal ultrasound and colonoscopy would be recommended
A patient with all these symptoms would probably be administered for three differential diagnoses. These would include gastroenteritis (characterized by viral, parasitic, or bacterial infection). Also, it would be appendicitis or intussusception. The differential diagnosis for this patient would, therefore, include gastroenteritis, dehydration, and appendicitis. Gastroenteritis is mainly affiliated by prolonged diarrhea and vomiting which basically causes hypovolemia and dehydration to the patient as large amount of water is lost (Cochran, 2018). Children are known to have the high surface area to volume ratio. They are also associated with communication inability of their feeling or health condition, putting them at a higher risk of the associated diagnoses.
A diagnosis such as vomiting, in newborn children and young infants, is mainly associated with conditions like abnormality of the Central Nervous System and anomaly in congenital gastro intestine or other infectious processes. This conditions may be affiliated by milk allergies, pyloric stenosis, gastroesophageal reflux infections or even abuse by the caregivers among infants and young children. Vomiting in older children and adolescents is mainly affiliated by pregnancies, intussusception, brain tumor, meningitis or even central nervous system diseases (Burns et al., 2013). Vomiting across all-age children can be affiliated by eating contaminated food which can mainly be prevented by ensuring hygiene and preventing infection spread among children of all ages.
Historical finding s that would indicate the need for diagnostic studies would include abdominal distention, severe pain, and guarding. These signs may indicate a serious condition which may need extended medical evaluation for the patient. This would suggest for further lab studies on abdominal CT, abnormal x-ray, blood culture, and other symptoms. The study is important to help in the identification of the health condition of the patient. The test should however not be conducted frequently to prevent exposing the patient to radiations which may be harmful.
Forcefully and prolonged vomiting of the patient especially in infant and young children would indicate a need for diagnostic studies. Other diagnosis that would lead to an order for a study would include prolonged abdominal pain which may replicate a severe adnominal problem. Other conditions include dehydration characterized by dry eyes and mouth, colored and reduced urination, decrease in patients response and uncommon fever and temperature below the normal body temperature. Monitoring of electrolytes helps in identification of dehydration resulting from diarrhea and vomiting. Diseases associated with the central nervous system and abdominal sections are identified by imagining studies.
References
Burns, C., Dunn, A., Brady, M., Starr, N., & Blosser, C. (2016). Pediatric Primary Care(6th ed.). Saunders.
Cheryl, A., & Cash, J. C. (2014). Family Practice Guideline (4th ed.). Southern University.
Cochran, W. J. (2018). Gastroenteritis in Children - Children's Health Issues - MSD Manual Consumer Version. Retrieved from https://www.msdmanuals.com/home/children-s-health-issues/digestive-disorders-in-children/gastroenteritis-in-children [Show Less]