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Suggest Treatment For Fever, Chills, Abdominal Bloating And Green Discolouration In Stool
Question: hi, I am a 31 year old male with a fever, chills, bloated stomach and dark green stool. I am also lactose intolerant
Brief Answer:
A few questions for you
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
I am sorry you are sick. If you can provide a bit more information, that will help me to answer you. My questions are:
1. How high is your fever?
2. I see that you are lactose intolerant. Did the current symptoms occur after ingesting food with lactose, or are you providing that information as additional medical information?
3. When did the fever, chills, bloat, green stool start? Is this the first time you have had these symptoms?
4. Did you have dark stools like this even before taking the Pepto Bisomol?
5. Do any of your BMs look like tar?
6. Has your health been good (prior to this episode) otherwise?
7. Are you having abdominal pain in any particular place? And for how long?
A few questions for you
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
I am sorry you are sick. If you can provide a bit more information, that will help me to answer you. My questions are:
1. How high is your fever?
2. I see that you are lactose intolerant. Did the current symptoms occur after ingesting food with lactose, or are you providing that information as additional medical information?
3. When did the fever, chills, bloat, green stool start? Is this the first time you have had these symptoms?
4. Did you have dark stools like this even before taking the Pepto Bisomol?
5. Do any of your BMs look like tar?
6. Has your health been good (prior to this episode) otherwise?
7. Are you having abdominal pain in any particular place? And for how long?
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
1. How high is your fever? I have not taken my temperature, I am not burning up, I just feel hot.
2. I see that you are lactose intolerant. Did the current symptoms occur after ingesting food with lactose, or are you providing that information as additional medical information? I am providing that as additional information
3. When did the fever, chills, bloat, green stool start? Is this the first time you have had these symptoms? symptom began late Friday, although I felt bloated on Thursday and my stomach felt queasy. The fever and chills have been on and off green stool began today, I have not vomited or had diarrhea though.
4. Did you have dark stools like this even before taking the Pepto Bisomol? no
5. Do any of your BMs look like tar? no
6. Has your health been good (prior to this episode) otherwise? yes, although I do frequently experience indigestion.
7. Are you having abdominal pain in any particular place? And for how long? no stabbing pain or discomfort in any particular place, just queasy and not how I normally feel.
2. I see that you are lactose intolerant. Did the current symptoms occur after ingesting food with lactose, or are you providing that information as additional medical information? I am providing that as additional information
3. When did the fever, chills, bloat, green stool start? Is this the first time you have had these symptoms? symptom began late Friday, although I felt bloated on Thursday and my stomach felt queasy. The fever and chills have been on and off green stool began today, I have not vomited or had diarrhea though.
4. Did you have dark stools like this even before taking the Pepto Bisomol? no
5. Do any of your BMs look like tar? no
6. Has your health been good (prior to this episode) otherwise? yes, although I do frequently experience indigestion.
7. Are you having abdominal pain in any particular place? And for how long? no stabbing pain or discomfort in any particular place, just queasy and not how I normally feel.
Brief Answer:
Most likely a viral gastroenteritis.
Detailed Answer:
I've given this some thought. The most likely cause is a viral gastroentertitis which is a stomach flu, and should pass in the next few days.
The dark green color is likely from from the bismuth in the Pepto Bismol. I am thinking this because Pepto Bismol can cause a blackish-green color to the stool, and because of the timing of it.
Some other thoughts about what might be going on and why they are less likely:
Appendicitis: this can cause a fever and feeling overall ill, but there is usually quite a lot of pain and the pain progresses. Jarring motions and walking make it worse. Usually the pain is on the lower right side of the abdomen.
Inflammatory bowel disease (such as Crohn's): This can produce a fever and feeling overall ill, but there are usually more gastrointestinal symptoms. Also, it is more of an ongoing problem, but it is possible to start with more mild symptoms. I would put this consideration on the back burner unless your symptoms continue beyond a few more days, or your symptoms worsen.
Irritable bowel syndrome: This is common with people who have lactose intolerance, and can definitely give bloating. But fever and chills are less likely.
Gall bladder problems such as stones: This can give a queasy feeling and bloating, but less likely to give a fever unless there is an infection. And there is usually right upper quadrant abdominal pain, and the symptoms are usually markedly worse after eating.
Kidney infection: definitely can give fever and chills, but there is almost always pain or aching in the back (flanks) and usually preceded or concurrent with urinary tract infection symptoms (burning with urination).
There are other things that are possible too. But given that this started 3 days ago and you were fairly well before, they don't need to be considered unless the symptoms continue.
So what to do? I think for now, treat this as a gastroenteritis, eating small amounts at a time, foods that you tolerate easily.
I suggest you take your temperature if you have a thermometer on hand.
When to go in to be seen:
If your fever is 101 or higher.
The abdominal distention gets worse, such as your abdomen is feeling hard.
Your symptoms get overall worse, OR are not showing signs of resolving by 5 days.
You develop abdominal pain, especially if it progresses.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification. And I hope you are feeling better soon.
In the future, if you want to ask a question on this website and have me answer, you can put my name in the first line of the question and it will get to me. Good luck.
Most likely a viral gastroenteritis.
Detailed Answer:
I've given this some thought. The most likely cause is a viral gastroentertitis which is a stomach flu, and should pass in the next few days.
The dark green color is likely from from the bismuth in the Pepto Bismol. I am thinking this because Pepto Bismol can cause a blackish-green color to the stool, and because of the timing of it.
Some other thoughts about what might be going on and why they are less likely:
Appendicitis: this can cause a fever and feeling overall ill, but there is usually quite a lot of pain and the pain progresses. Jarring motions and walking make it worse. Usually the pain is on the lower right side of the abdomen.
Inflammatory bowel disease (such as Crohn's): This can produce a fever and feeling overall ill, but there are usually more gastrointestinal symptoms. Also, it is more of an ongoing problem, but it is possible to start with more mild symptoms. I would put this consideration on the back burner unless your symptoms continue beyond a few more days, or your symptoms worsen.
Irritable bowel syndrome: This is common with people who have lactose intolerance, and can definitely give bloating. But fever and chills are less likely.
Gall bladder problems such as stones: This can give a queasy feeling and bloating, but less likely to give a fever unless there is an infection. And there is usually right upper quadrant abdominal pain, and the symptoms are usually markedly worse after eating.
Kidney infection: definitely can give fever and chills, but there is almost always pain or aching in the back (flanks) and usually preceded or concurrent with urinary tract infection symptoms (burning with urination).
There are other things that are possible too. But given that this started 3 days ago and you were fairly well before, they don't need to be considered unless the symptoms continue.
So what to do? I think for now, treat this as a gastroenteritis, eating small amounts at a time, foods that you tolerate easily.
I suggest you take your temperature if you have a thermometer on hand.
When to go in to be seen:
If your fever is 101 or higher.
The abdominal distention gets worse, such as your abdomen is feeling hard.
Your symptoms get overall worse, OR are not showing signs of resolving by 5 days.
You develop abdominal pain, especially if it progresses.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification. And I hope you are feeling better soon.
In the future, if you want to ask a question on this website and have me answer, you can put my name in the first line of the question and it will get to me. Good luck.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you very much! I also want to add that since Thursday night I have been waking up in the middle of the night drenched in sweat. I forgot to mention this earlier, and don't know if this changes anythjng in your diagnosis.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Brief Answer:
Probably best to go in to be seen tonight or tomorrow at the latest.
Detailed Answer:
I think, given the night sweats, you should go in to be seen. While this may still be a passing viral infection, as it has not started to get better, I think it best for you to go in to be seen in person. An urgent care or ER.
In an urgent care or ER, they will get your vitals (Blood pressure, pulse, temperature) and do a physical exam, especially of your abdomen. Likely they will get an abdominal X-ray, and a complete blood count, which can show if there is infection. A CBC with differential count can sometimes give an indication of whether an infection is viral or bacterial.
A low grade fever from a stomach flu usually doesn't cause drenching sweats for this long, especially without diarrhea.
If possible, please let me know how you are doing after you go in to be evaluated.
Probably best to go in to be seen tonight or tomorrow at the latest.
Detailed Answer:
I think, given the night sweats, you should go in to be seen. While this may still be a passing viral infection, as it has not started to get better, I think it best for you to go in to be seen in person. An urgent care or ER.
In an urgent care or ER, they will get your vitals (Blood pressure, pulse, temperature) and do a physical exam, especially of your abdomen. Likely they will get an abdominal X-ray, and a complete blood count, which can show if there is infection. A CBC with differential count can sometimes give an indication of whether an infection is viral or bacterial.
A low grade fever from a stomach flu usually doesn't cause drenching sweats for this long, especially without diarrhea.
If possible, please let me know how you are doing after you go in to be evaluated.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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