Differential Diagnosis for 8-year-old Boy with Abdominal Pain and Headache
- Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Viral gastroenteritis: This is a common condition in children, often presenting with abdominal pain, headache, and possibly fever and vomiting. The combination of symptoms and the age of the patient make this a plausible first consideration.
- Other Likely Diagnoses
- Constipation: Abdominal pain and headache can be associated with constipation, especially if the child is straining during bowel movements or has a bowel obstruction.
- Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): UTIs can cause abdominal pain and headache, especially if the infection has ascended to the kidneys (pyelonephritis).
- Functional abdominal pain: This is a common cause of recurrent abdominal pain in children, often associated with stress, anxiety, or other psychological factors, and can be accompanied by headaches.
- Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Appendicitis: Although less common, appendicitis is a critical diagnosis to consider, as it requires prompt surgical intervention to prevent perforation and peritonitis.
- Meningitis: This is an infection of the meninges, the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, which can present with headache, abdominal pain (due to irritation of the abdominal nerves), and fever.
- Intussusception: A condition where a part of the intestine slides into an adjacent part, potentially cutting off blood supply, which is an emergency requiring immediate attention.
- Diabetes Insipidus or Diabetic Ketoacidosis: Both conditions can present with abdominal pain and headache, among other symptoms like polyuria and polydipsia, and require urgent management.
- Rare Diagnoses
- Lead poisoning: Can cause abdominal pain and headache, among other neurological symptoms, due to the toxic effects of lead on the body.
- Porphyria: A group of disorders that can lead to acute episodes of severe abdominal pain, neurological symptoms, and psychiatric disturbances.
- Neuroblastoma: A type of cancer that can cause abdominal pain and headache if it involves the abdomen or metastasizes to the brain.
- Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (HSP): A form of vasculitis that affects blood vessels and can cause abdominal pain, headache, and a characteristic rash.