Differential Diagnosis for Illness Presenting with Headache and Stomach Pain
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Viral Gastroenteritis: This is often the most common cause of headache and stomach pain, especially if the symptoms are accompanied by fever, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The headache can be due to dehydration or the viral infection itself.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Migraine: Migraines can cause severe headaches and are often accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea and vomiting, which could be perceived as stomach pain.
- Tension Headache: Tension headaches can cause significant discomfort and may be associated with stomach pain due to muscle tension or stress.
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): GERD can cause stomach pain and may lead to headaches due to the discomfort or stress associated with the condition.
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Conditions like Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis can cause chronic stomach pain and may be associated with headaches due to the systemic inflammation or the psychological stress of dealing with a chronic condition.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Appendicitis: Although it primarily causes abdominal pain, appendicitis can sometimes present with headache, especially if the appendix ruptures and causes peritonitis, leading to systemic symptoms.
- Meningitis: This is an infection of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known as the meninges. It can cause severe headache and may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
- Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A type of stroke caused by bleeding into the space surrounding the brain, which can present with a sudden, severe headache and may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain due to the increased intracranial pressure.
- Pancreatitis: Inflammation of the pancreas can cause severe abdominal pain and may be associated with headaches due to the systemic inflammatory response.
Rare Diagnoses
- Porphyria: A group of disorders that can cause abdominal pain, neurological symptoms, and sometimes headaches due to the accumulation of toxic substances in the body.
- Lead Poisoning: Can cause a variety of symptoms including abdominal pain and headaches due to the toxic effects of lead on the body.
- Neurological Disorders: Certain rare neurological conditions, such as brain tumors or multiple sclerosis, can cause both headache and stomach pain, though these would typically be accompanied by other, more specific neurological symptoms.