C/O chest pain

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Whats the best assessment for a student complaining of chest pain? I always ask if they have a cold or been coughing a lot or if it is heart burn. If they say no to either I check their HR and BP and do a visual assessment to see if they are faint or sweating. Is there anything else that I am missing?

And constipation is the NUMERO UNO cause of recurrent abdominal pain in children. If only parents would realize this.

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And constipation is the NUMERO UNO cause of recurrent abdominal pain in children. If only parents would realize this.

When I ask the poo question at the HS the kids have no problem telling me. In detail.

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Specializes in School nursing.
When I ask the poo question at the HS the kids have no problem telling me. In detail.

See the ladies will spill in detail about their period, but poop. Nope. They bleed, but never poop. Which must hurt, I'd think. :blink:

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And constipation is the NUMERO UNO cause of recurrent abdominal pain in children. If only parents would realize this.

I wish students would believe me! I feel like I am seeing 90% stomachaches and everyone except the kinders refuses to believe that going to the bathroom may help. I want to get myself a t-shirt that says "your stomach hurts because you need to poop" - see if that will drive the message home.

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Parents don't even believe it! And the child can be backed up even if they have regular bowel movements.

Hard to get anyone to understand it.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.
And constipation is the NUMERO UNO cause of recurrent abdominal pain in children. If only parents would realize this.

This is soooo true. When I worked in the ER we'd have kids brought in there, crying hysterically, writhing about like they were being eaten alive by some inner demon. We'd give them an enema, they'd launch out a fence post sized "tube o poop", and go home laughing, skipping, worry free.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.
See the ladies will spill in detail about their period, but poop. Nope. They bleed, but never poop. Which must hurt, I'd think. :blink:

I'd think so. That's why the mythical two headed alligator is so mean.

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Specializes in School Nurse.

I'll never forget the counselor at camp running with my child in his arms frantic that my son is having severe back pain. After my initial mom panic the nurse in me chimed in - "when was the last time you pooped?" Well of course a trip to the bathroom a little boy with a grin from ear to ear felt all better.

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I'd think so. That's why the mythical two headed alligator is so mean.

Hmmm...

Jen-Elizabeth, you are right. I'm talking mostly about the boys, because girls don't have "stomach aches" they have "cramps".

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