How is the diagnosis made?
The diagnosis is made in summary of the existing symptoms. A distinction is to be made between the pure occurrence of abdominal pain and fever, which often occurs in the context of viral or bacterial infections, and the occurrence of both symptoms together with other symptoms of other causative diseases. These are, as already mentioned above, flatulence with muscle tension in the abdomen, diarrhoea, nausea with vomiting and in some cases radiating into the back.
Especially here a detailed clarification of possible pathologies is essential. If CED (Chrohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis) is suspected, an ultrasound examination and a stool sample can often help. The spectrum of diagnostic procedures ranges from the anamnestic determination of all symptoms to listening (auscultation), palpation and percussion of the abdomen as well as blood tests (especially for inflammatory values in the case of infections or CED), ultrasound examination (detection of potentially existing inflammatory infiltrates) or an X-ray of the abdomen.
The determination of the inflammation values (especially CRP and BSG) play an important role, especially in the diagnosis of CED. In addition to stool samples, special localized tissue biopsies can also be used in the diagnostic process. Tissue biopsies play an important role, for example, in celiac disease and can draw attention to this disease through subsequent histological examination. The course of the fever should also be assessed in the diagnosis. This can manifest itself differently in the course of the curve for the various causal diseases.
When do I have to see the doctor?
Exact limits for consulting a doctor in case of abdominal pain cannot be set in principle. The affected patient should assess the intensity of the pain himself/herself and consult a doctor for clarification in the case of persistent massive pain or increasing abdominal pain. With fever, on the other hand, there are certain rules of thumb as to when a doctor should be consulted.
Infants up to and including the 3rd month of life should consult a pediatrician if their body temperature exceeds 38 degrees Celsius. For infants, if the fever has lasted for more than one day, a doctor should be recruited. With older children, however, the question of when to see a doctor with a fever is answered differently.
Here, the rough rule of thumb is that if the body temperature is 39 degrees Celsius or if the fever persists for more than three days or recurs repeatedly, the child should be examined by a doctor. Adults should see a doctor if the fever persists for more than two or three days or recurs repeatedly. If a combination of abdominal pain and fever occurs, do not wait long before consulting a doctor. Behind this complex of symptoms, there can be rather harmless causes as well as serious illnesses.
