Differential Diagnosis for Generalized Abdominal Pain, Nausea, and Satiety in a Child
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Viral Gastroenteritis: This is the most common cause of abdominal pain, nausea, and satiety in children, often accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea. The symptoms are usually self-limiting and resolve within a few days.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Constipation: Can cause abdominal pain, nausea, and a feeling of satiety due to the buildup of stool in the intestines. It's a common issue in children and can be managed with dietary changes and bowel habits.
- Functional Dyspepsia: A condition characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and discomfort, often associated with eating, which can lead to nausea and satiety. It's a common functional gastrointestinal disorder in children.
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): Can cause abdominal pain, nausea, and satiety, especially after eating, due to the reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Appendicitis: Although less common, appendicitis can present with generalized abdominal pain that later localizes to the right lower quadrant, nausea, and vomiting. It's a surgical emergency that requires prompt diagnosis and treatment.
- Intussusception: A condition where a part of the intestine telescopes into another, causing bowel obstruction. It can present with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and bloody stools. It's a medical emergency that requires immediate attention.
- Pyloric Stenosis: A condition where the pylorus muscle thickens, causing gastric outlet obstruction. It typically presents with projectile vomiting, but can also cause abdominal pain and satiety.
Rare Diagnoses
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Conditions like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis can cause chronic abdominal pain, nausea, and satiety, along with diarrhea and weight loss.
- Celiac Disease: An autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to react to gluten, leading to abdominal pain, nausea, and satiety, along with diarrhea and malabsorption.
- Abdominal Migraine: A condition that causes recurrent episodes of abdominal pain, often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and headache. It's a rare condition that can be challenging to diagnose.