Differential Diagnosis for LBM (Loss of Body Mass)
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Chronic Infection or Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): The patient's persistent symptoms of loose watery stools, decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, and diffused crampy right lower quadrant pain, despite treatment, suggest a chronic infection or IBD such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. The elevated CRP and low albumin levels support this diagnosis.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Malabsorption Syndrome: The patient's significant weight loss, low BMI, and low hemoglobin levels suggest malabsorption of nutrients. This could be due to various causes such as celiac disease, pancreatic insufficiency, or bacterial overgrowth.
- Gastrointestinal Cancer: Although less likely, the patient's significant weight loss and persistent symptoms could be indicative of a gastrointestinal cancer such as gastric or colon cancer.
- Tuberculosis: The patient's symptoms of weight loss, easy fatigability, and abdominal pain, along with the elevated CRP, could be suggestive of tuberculosis, especially in a patient with a history of smoking.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- HIV/AIDS: Although the patient denies illicit drug use, HIV/AIDS can present with chronic diarrhea, weight loss, and malabsorption. It is essential to consider this diagnosis to avoid missing a potentially life-threatening condition.
- Intestinal Lymphoma: This is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition that can present with chronic diarrhea, weight loss, and abdominal pain.
Rare Diagnoses
- Whipple's Disease: A rare bacterial infection that can cause malabsorption, weight loss, and diarrhea.
- Short Bowel Syndrome: A condition where a significant portion of the small intestine is missing or not functioning, leading to malabsorption and weight loss.
- Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis: A rare condition characterized by eosinophilic infiltration of the gastrointestinal tract, leading to chronic diarrhea, weight loss, and abdominal pain.