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Discuss and differentiate between the causes of acute and chronic abdominal pain in a 20-year-old versus a 50-year-old male. Provide a rationale for including the appropriate differential diagnoses in each age group.
| Subject | Nursing | Pages | 3 | Style | APA |
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Answer
Differential Diagnoses of Acute and Chronic Abdominal Pain
Diagnosis of abdominal pain can have several pitfalls across age groups due to the vast array of its possible causes. However, there are different causes of abdominal pain for the younger adults and the older patients because of the differences in immunity state, body physiology, and predispositions to other infections. A 20-year-old male still has a fully functioning system and the age predispositions to diseases such as vascular diseases, cancer, and hernia. Therefore, the causes of acute abdominal pain in a 20-year-old man could be less severe such as stomach irritation caused by spicy foods and acid cola beverages (Deacy, & Friesen, 2013). However, chronic abdominal pain in a 20-year old man could be more severing systemic infections such as hepatitis, parasitic infections like giardiasis, and gallbladder attack, pancreatitis, and Crohn’s disease (Klass, 2010). Acute abdominal pain in a 20-year old male can also emanate from constipation when less fiber is present in food or due to indigestion.
There are drastic body changes at old age that can predispose the 40-year-old man to abdominal pain. The variation of abdominal pain in old age is due to coexisting infections, and physical and social barriers. The changes in the endothelium of blood vessels whereby blood vessels walls become less elastic with age predispose a 50-year-old man to cardiovascular diseases such as an aortic aneurysm (Braverman, Thompson, & Sanchez, 2012). A rupture of the abdominal aortic aneurysm, for instance, can lead to acute abdominal pain (Braverman, Thompson, & Sanchez, 2012). Acute cholecystitis is common in age groups above 50 years. Furthermore, acute myocardial infarction, a common cardiopathy of the old, can cause acute abdominal pain following the concept of referred pain (Braverman, Thompson, & Sanchez, 2012).
Depression and stress usually increase in old age due to social factors such as isolation. Constipation is a major symptom of depression and therefore, can also cause abdominal pain at old age (Klass, 2010). The biliary system’s functions reduce with aging predisposing older patients to cholecystitis that causes chronic abdominal pain commonly in the old (Klass, 2010). Immune system function emasculates with aging. Immunity is always lower at infant age and also in the later years of life. The reduced immunity predisposes a 50-year-old man to diarrheal infections (Klass, 2010). Cancers that are more rampant in the old can also cause chronic abdominal pain due to large bowel obstruction. Cancers of the stomach or colon can also cause abdominal pain (Deacy, & Friesen, 2013). Diverticular disease is presenting as lower gastrointestinal bleeding increases in prevalence with age (Deacy, & Friesen, 2013). Physical weakness of the intra-abdominal fissures can also lead to hernias at old age (Klass, 2010). Therefore, abdominal hernias can also cause acute abdominal pain in a 50-year-old male.
References
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Braverman, A. C., Thompson, R. W., & Sanchez, L. A. (2012). Diseases of the aorta. Braunwald’s Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine, 2, 1309-1337.
Deacy, D., & Friesen, C. A. (2013). Recurrent abdominal pain. Oxford Textbook of Paediatric Pain, 289.
Klass, P. (2010, November 23). A Prescription for Abdominal Pain: Due Diligence. New York Times. p. 5.
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