Differential Diagnosis for Sore Throat and Abdominal Pain in a 14-year-old Female
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Viral Pharyngitis: This is the most common cause of sore throat in adolescents, and abdominal pain can sometimes accompany viral infections due to systemic symptoms or referred pain.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Strep Pharyngitis: Although less common than viral pharyngitis, streptococcal infections can cause severe sore throat and may be accompanied by abdominal pain, especially if the infection leads to systemic symptoms.
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): GERD can cause both abdominal pain and sore throat due to acid reflux irritating the throat.
- Viral Gastroenteritis: This condition can cause abdominal pain and, in some cases, a sore throat if the virus affects the upper respiratory tract as well.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Appendicitis: Although abdominal pain is a key symptom, a sore throat could be an unrelated coincidental finding. Appendicitis is a surgical emergency and must be considered in any case of abdominal pain.
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Conditions like Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis can present with abdominal pain and sometimes extraintestinal symptoms, including sore throat due to oral ulcers or systemic inflammation.
- Kawasaki Disease: This rare condition can present with fever, abdominal pain, and sore throat among other symptoms, and is a medical emergency due to the risk of cardiac complications.
Rare Diagnoses
- Lemierre's Syndrome: A rare condition characterized by a bacterial infection of the throat (usually by Fusobacterium necrophorum) that can lead to sepsis and abdominal pain due to metastatic infection or thrombophlebitis.
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE): A chronic autoimmune disease that can present with a wide range of symptoms, including sore throat and abdominal pain, due to its systemic nature.
- Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (HSP): A form of vasculitis that can cause abdominal pain and sometimes sore throat, along with the characteristic purpuric rash.