Stomach Pains and Bruises
My nephew has been having severe stomach pains. A physician thought it was just a blockage in his intestines and gave him medication. The pain seemed to get better. However recently he began bruising easily and today his stomach began to hurt again and he ran a fever. Does anyone know what might cause these symptoms? (And please don't answer with, "see a physician". Obviously, we're taking him to his pediatrician in the morning, and I view that answer as just a sorry attempt to gain points.
Answer:I am not sure where he is bruising, but if it is on the stomach or on the back behind the stomach or sides of the stomach (abdomen) I would take him to the hospital. Bruising is bleeding and if he is developing this on his stomach there could be internal bleeding.
If it is random bruising, it may be happening from a number of different factors...there are so many systems in the body that are related directly to the hematologic system (kidneys make erythropoetin which helps make red blood cells, spleen contains platelets and if there is a dysfunction can cause bleeding issues, and the bones aid in red blood cell production, the liver stores blood, and then there are the vitamins that affect everything...way too numerous to list everything here but you get the point). I am not sure what the age of your nephew is but in babies a blockage or twisted gut is fairly common, but nonetheless dangerous. You are saying "just a blockage" so I am not sure what was told to you, but it is my understanding that a blockage in the intestines is quite dangerous in any age. Make sure this doctor explains to you or the parents fully what is wrong with the child, what the medication can do for the child, when to expect results, when you should call back if you are not seeing results, and what symptoms would indicate an emergency. Good Luck and hopefully your nephew will be fine very soon! Sorry, did not mean to scare you at all, but you didn't want the standard see your doc answer, so being prepared for things is better than being blindsided.
It could be something basically simple like an intestinal infection, with the bruising being coincidental, or something as serious as leukemia, or something transient like Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP). I hope it can be easily resolved.