Differential Diagnosis for Immediate Post-Meal Pain in a 7-Year-Old
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Functional Dyspepsia: This condition is characterized by recurrent pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen that is not explained by other medical conditions. It is a common cause of abdominal pain in children and can be triggered by eating. The pain is often described as a burning or gnawing sensation and can be related to the consumption of specific foods or the act of eating itself.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): GERD can cause pain immediately after eating due to the reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus. Symptoms can include heartburn, regurgitation, and abdominal pain.
- Food Intolerance: Intolerance to certain foods, such as lactose or gluten, can lead to abdominal pain, bloating, and gas after eating.
- Constipation: Constipation is a common issue in children and can cause abdominal pain, especially after eating if the pain is related to bowel movements.
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): IBS can cause abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel movements, which can be triggered by eating.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Pyloric Stenosis: Although more common in infants, pyloric stenosis can occur in older children and causes severe vomiting and abdominal pain after eating due to a narrowing of the pylorus, the passage between the stomach and small intestine.
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Conditions like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis can cause severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weight loss. Early diagnosis is crucial to prevent complications.
- Intussusception: A condition where a part of the intestine slides into another, causing bowel obstruction. It can present with severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and bloody stools after eating.
Rare Diagnoses
- Eosinophilic Esophagitis: A rare condition characterized by an allergic inflammatory response in the esophagus, leading to difficulty swallowing, abdominal pain, and food impaction.
- Celiac Disease: An autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to react to gluten, leading to small intestine damage and symptoms like abdominal pain, diarrhea, and malabsorption.
- Gastric or Duodenal Ulcer: Peptic ulcers can cause severe abdominal pain, especially after eating, due to the ulceration of the stomach or duodenal lining.