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Suggest Treatment For Upper Abdominal Pain
Question: My daughter, 10 years old, is experiencing upper abdominal pressure for the last week. The first session lasted three hours and hurt so bad she couldn't lay down she had to sit up. That was on the night of Dec. 25th. It seems to feel worse when she eats. She has had some Tylenol to over the last month due to a sore ankle. It is waking her up at night. On a scale of 0 to 10 the current level is a 4 however the first bout was an 8. All her blood work came back within normal range. Should I treat her for gastritios? If so what would be the best over the counter medicine for her?
Brief Answer:
Ultrasonography- Pediatric Surgeon's examination
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query and an elucidate history about your daughter who is just 10 years old.
It is a bit difficult to get the exact history for a girl of 10 years in some instances.
As the history goes : upper abdominal pressure 1 week - severe in the first 3 hours on Dec 25th - increases on eating - waking her up at night - blood work, urine and throat swab normal - Tylenol for ankle - tried tums without effect- you are thinking of gastritis- Wants OTC ...
First off all the history is suggestive that there may be more than gastritis as tums is not helping and eating is aggravating pain and pain is waking her up at night - all these things are suggestive of going for further investigations.
I would advise you to take her for minimum urgent ultrasonography of the abdomen ( it is almost 10 days now). This is important to rule out some possible problems like appendicitis, tummy tonsils (meaning abdominal lymph nodes) and so on.
Even an opinion of a Pediatric Surgeon should be sought as a clinical / physical examination by a Surgeon helps to aid in the correct diagnosis.
As for the OTC medicines, you can give her Tablet Ranitidine 150 mg once a day and Antacid gel at 3 hourly interval; if this does not help, please get further actions ASAP as explained above.
I hope this answer helps you to get a proper decision for an early diagnosis and proper treatment for a 10 year old child.
Please feel free to ask for more if you need to or if you fell there is a gap of communication.
Ultrasonography- Pediatric Surgeon's examination
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query and an elucidate history about your daughter who is just 10 years old.
It is a bit difficult to get the exact history for a girl of 10 years in some instances.
As the history goes : upper abdominal pressure 1 week - severe in the first 3 hours on Dec 25th - increases on eating - waking her up at night - blood work, urine and throat swab normal - Tylenol for ankle - tried tums without effect- you are thinking of gastritis- Wants OTC ...
First off all the history is suggestive that there may be more than gastritis as tums is not helping and eating is aggravating pain and pain is waking her up at night - all these things are suggestive of going for further investigations.
I would advise you to take her for minimum urgent ultrasonography of the abdomen ( it is almost 10 days now). This is important to rule out some possible problems like appendicitis, tummy tonsils (meaning abdominal lymph nodes) and so on.
Even an opinion of a Pediatric Surgeon should be sought as a clinical / physical examination by a Surgeon helps to aid in the correct diagnosis.
As for the OTC medicines, you can give her Tablet Ranitidine 150 mg once a day and Antacid gel at 3 hourly interval; if this does not help, please get further actions ASAP as explained above.
I hope this answer helps you to get a proper decision for an early diagnosis and proper treatment for a 10 year old child.
Please feel free to ask for more if you need to or if you fell there is a gap of communication.
Note: Revert back with your health reports to get further guidance on your gastric problems. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
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