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My 18 Year Old Son Has Had Chronic Chest Pain
Question: My 18 year old son has had chronic chest pain, nausea, stomach pain, and fatigue. We have done all the heart, lung, colon and digestive cameras. all types of blood tests. he has been in the emergency room 3 times and has stayed in the hospital for days but no one can figure out what is going on.
Brief Answer:
Could be typhoid or parasites
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to Ask A Doctor service.
I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
Could be a water borne illness digestive illness. If any lymph nodes were seen to be enlarged, they can be sent for biopsy. If possible kindly upload reports.
Many conditions like parasites, tuberculosis and typhoid need special tests.
For parasites a tablet of albendazole 400 mg can be taken.
Drinking cleaner water with low TDS or PPM can be tried for few days and see if it helps.
Breathing techniques can help with chest pain.
Hope it helps. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Dr Vaishalee
Could be typhoid or parasites
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to Ask A Doctor service.
I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
Could be a water borne illness digestive illness. If any lymph nodes were seen to be enlarged, they can be sent for biopsy. If possible kindly upload reports.
Many conditions like parasites, tuberculosis and typhoid need special tests.
For parasites a tablet of albendazole 400 mg can be taken.
Drinking cleaner water with low TDS or PPM can be tried for few days and see if it helps.
Breathing techniques can help with chest pain.
Hope it helps. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Dr Vaishalee
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
We have tested for water born parasites and the others mentioned. He has also list about 10 pounds in last couple months. He only weighs 120lbs. It must be something else. Think harder. Thanks.
Brief Answer:
Need to take all precautions from our side
Detailed Answer:
Hi again
Most probably there is some type of inflammation in intestines. Such a combination of symptoms would be seen in typhoid, parasites, LRTI, inflammatory bowel disease.
If diagnosis is not found, then we have to look for any hidden untoward exposures. Since chest pain is there, I am also suspecting that he maybe inhaling polluted air? Kindly check if there are any dust, pets or bird dropping exposure? Eating non-vegetarian foods can expose to parasites? Drinking unclean water? Uncooked foods? STDs? Dental abscess? Any medicines? Any new foods? Tinned foods?
Until we find a cause, I will still suggest a tab Albendazole for routine de-worming can be given. It doesn't have side effects.
If possible please provide tests and any other details. Stool culture and sensitivity can be done? Sputum culture and sensitivity, blood culture can be done. These are done to find any bacteria in the samples.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Dr Vaishalee
Need to take all precautions from our side
Detailed Answer:
Hi again
Most probably there is some type of inflammation in intestines. Such a combination of symptoms would be seen in typhoid, parasites, LRTI, inflammatory bowel disease.
If diagnosis is not found, then we have to look for any hidden untoward exposures. Since chest pain is there, I am also suspecting that he maybe inhaling polluted air? Kindly check if there are any dust, pets or bird dropping exposure? Eating non-vegetarian foods can expose to parasites? Drinking unclean water? Uncooked foods? STDs? Dental abscess? Any medicines? Any new foods? Tinned foods?
Until we find a cause, I will still suggest a tab Albendazole for routine de-worming can be given. It doesn't have side effects.
If possible please provide tests and any other details. Stool culture and sensitivity can be done? Sputum culture and sensitivity, blood culture can be done. These are done to find any bacteria in the samples.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Dr Vaishalee
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
He went to the doctor today and he found that his liver hurt to the touch. ??
Brief Answer:
Liver is the cleansing organ
Detailed Answer:
Hi again
Liver cleans the blood coming from intestines and it may hurt in the process. So it means that the pathology is in intestine and is extending to liver. It has been there for long enough to cause tenderness (hurt to touch).
If any lymph nodes in the abdomen are enlarged, tissue from them can be sent for biopsy. This will give definitive diagnosis. For this you need to check scan reports for any lymphadenopathy.
Since you have not mentioned fever, tuberculosis, typhoid, sarcoidosis, celiac, allergy to some protein are coming to my mind. Typical bacterial or viral infections or malaria will present with fever and changes in complete blood count. Bacteria will confirm on culture of specimens. Autoimmune and cancers will show up on tests. Porphyria, ulcerative colitis will have episodes of digestive problems (and not a regular pattern).
Dr Vaishalee
Liver is the cleansing organ
Detailed Answer:
Hi again
Liver cleans the blood coming from intestines and it may hurt in the process. So it means that the pathology is in intestine and is extending to liver. It has been there for long enough to cause tenderness (hurt to touch).
If any lymph nodes in the abdomen are enlarged, tissue from them can be sent for biopsy. This will give definitive diagnosis. For this you need to check scan reports for any lymphadenopathy.
Since you have not mentioned fever, tuberculosis, typhoid, sarcoidosis, celiac, allergy to some protein are coming to my mind. Typical bacterial or viral infections or malaria will present with fever and changes in complete blood count. Bacteria will confirm on culture of specimens. Autoimmune and cancers will show up on tests. Porphyria, ulcerative colitis will have episodes of digestive problems (and not a regular pattern).
Dr Vaishalee
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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