Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Acute Abdominal Pain
Number of Conditions: 3
Cholecystitis
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Gastrointestinal Emergencies
Sub-category: Acute Abdominal Pain
Symptoms:
right upper quadrant abdominal pain; nausea; vomiting; fever; pain radiating to the shoulder or back; tenderness in the right upper quadrant
Root Cause:
Inflammation of the gallbladder, usually due to obstruction of the cystic duct by gallstones.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical examination, abdominal ultrasound, HIDA scan, and elevated inflammatory markers (WBC, CRP).
Treatment:
Fasting (NPO), intravenous fluids, pain control, antibiotics, and cholecystectomy (surgical removal of the gallbladder).
Medications:
Broad-spectrum antibiotics such as piperacillin-tazobactam (penicillin class) or ceftriaxone with metronidazole are commonly prescribed. NSAIDs or opioids for pain management.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects about 10-15% of the adult population, with acute cholecystitis being a complication in a smaller proportion.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Female gender, obesity, pregnancy, age over 40, rapid weight loss, high-fat diet.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with prompt treatment; untreated cases can lead to severe complications.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Gallbladder rupture, peritonitis, sepsis, emphysematous cholecystitis.
Pancreatitis
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Gastrointestinal Emergencies
Sub-category: Acute Abdominal Pain
Symptoms:
severe upper abdominal pain; pain radiating to the back; nausea; vomiting; fever; abdominal tenderness; jaundice in some cases
Root Cause:
Inflammation of the pancreas due to gallstones, alcohol use, or other factors like hypertriglyceridemia or trauma.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical assessment, elevated serum amylase and lipase levels, abdominal ultrasound, or CT scan.
Treatment:
Supportive care with fasting (NPO), IV fluids, pain control, and treating the underlying cause (e.g., gallstone removal). Severe cases may require intensive care or surgical intervention.
Medications:
Analgesics such as morphine (opioid) or NSAIDs for pain; antibiotics only in cases of infected pancreatic necrosis.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
About 50 cases per 100,000 annually in developed countries.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Alcohol abuse, gallstones, high triglycerides, smoking, certain medications.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Varies; mild cases resolve in days, while severe cases can lead to multi-organ failure.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Pancreatic necrosis, pseudocysts, infection, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS).
Perforated Viscus
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Gastrointestinal Emergencies
Sub-category: Acute Abdominal Pain
Symptoms:
sudden severe abdominal pain; rigid abdomen; fever; nausea; vomiting; hypotension; tachycardia
Root Cause:
Perforation of the gastrointestinal tract, leading to leakage of contents into the abdominal cavity and peritonitis. Common causes include peptic ulcers, diverticulitis, or trauma.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical examination, X-ray or CT showing free air under the diaphragm (pneumoperitoneum), and blood tests for infection markers.
Treatment:
Emergency surgery to repair the perforation, IV antibiotics, and supportive care.
Medications:
Broad-spectrum antibiotics like ceftriaxone with metronidazole or piperacillin-tazobactam to manage peritonitis. Pain relief with opioids.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare but life-threatening, particularly in patients with peptic ulcers or diverticulitis.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
NSAID use, corticosteroids, smoking, alcohol use, peptic ulcer disease, trauma.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Depends on timely intervention; high mortality without treatment.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Sepsis, multi-organ failure, death.