Abdominal Pain and Anemia in a Child

Allison King, MD, MPH and John DiPersio, MD, PhD

Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO

This case was reviewed and updated in 2009 by Dr. Eric Kraut and members of the Teaching Cases Subcommittee.

Copyright of the American Society of Hematology, 2006. ISSN: 1931-6860.

I. HISTORY

Patient Presentation

A four-year-old African American male diagnosed with sickle cell disease in the newborn period was admitted to the hospital with abdominal pain. Two days prior to admission, he was seen in the emergency room for abdominal pain and sent out on pain medicine.

What history, including symptoms, would be most helpful in evaluating this patient? Select all that apply.

Prior episodes of abdominal pain
Trauma
History of other types of pain
Fever
Cough and shortness of breath
Medications
Family history


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