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| A Potentially Urgent Medical Need |
Last updated: May 05, 2008 |
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A Potentially Urgent Medical Need |
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Signs, symptoms and indicators | Conditions that suggest it | Contributing risk factors | Recommendations
 Signs, symptoms & indicators of A Potentially Urgent Medical Need: | |  | | | | Symptoms - Bowel Movements |  Black or tarry stools | Blood, as seen in the stool, can originate anywhere along the intestinal tract. A black stool (called melena) usually means that the blood is coming from the upper part of the tract. At least 2 Tablespoons (60ml) of blood must have been lost in order to make the stool black. Maroon-colored stools suggest that the blood is coming from the middle portion of the intestinal tract, and bright red from the large bowel or rectum. If stools change color suddenly, it can be evidence of internal bleeding which requires immediate medical attention.
The ingestion of black licorice, Pepto-Bismol, or blueberries can all cause black stools or false melena. Stools should be tested for the presence of hidden blood. |
(Frequent/significant) blood in stools| | Significant bleeding from anywhere in the body requires immediate medical attention. Small amounts of red blood, especially on the toilet tissue, are most likely from hemorrhoids. |
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Symptoms - Gas-Int - General |
Severe abdominal discomfort| | Severe acute or prolonged abdominal pain is a possible symptom of many serious conditions. You are advised to seek medical attention as soon as possible, unless you already know the cause of the pain. |
Severe right/severe/severe left lower abdominal pain
 Acute/recent abdominal pain
Counter-indicators:
 Chronic abdominal pain |
Symptoms - Head - Eyes/Ocular |
Unilateral/bilateral eye pain| | Severe eye pain should be investigated aggressively to prevent the possible consequence of blindness. |
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Symptoms - Respiratory |
Chest pain when breathing or chest pain when breathing in or chest pain when breathing out| | The sensation of a "catch" at the end of a deep breath is clinically important as a symptom of pulmonary embolism (a clot to the lung). This requires immediate evaluation by a physician. |
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Symptoms - Urinary |
Having blood in urine |
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Conditions that suggest A Potentially Urgent Medical Need: | | | | | | Autoimmune | Ulcerative Colitis| | Due to blood and electrolyte loss, as well as the need to prevent further tissue damage, early diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease is important. |
Crohn's Disease |
Infections |
Malaria
Pyelonephritis
Cellulitis |
Metabolic |
Anorexia / Starvation Tendency| | Hospitalization is recommended for anorexics with any of the following characteristics:
- Weight of 40% or more below normal; or weight loss over a three-month period of more than 30 pounds.
- Severely disturbed metabolism.
- Severe binging and purging.
- Signs of psychosis.
- Severe depression or risk of suicide.
- Family in crisis.
Hospital treatment includes individual and group therapy as well as refeeding and monitoring of the patient's physical condition. Treatment usually requires 2-4 months in the hospital. In extreme cases, hospitalized patients may be force-fed through a tube inserted in the nose (nasogastric tube) or by over-feeding (hyperalimentation techniques). |
Hyperkalemia (Elevated Serum Potassium) |
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Risk factors for A Potentially Urgent Medical Need: | | | | | | Personal Background | Counter-indicators:
 Being under medical/being under alternative care or being under joint medical supervison |
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Recommendations for A Potentially Urgent Medical Need:
KEY | | Strong or generally accepted link | | | Proven definite or direct link | | | Strongly counter-indicative | | | Very strongly or absolutely counter-indicative |  | | Highly recommended |
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