Medical Question for a Pediatric Nurse

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I need some advice about my 7-year-old son. He lives with his dad most of the time and with me the entire summer. I have always been concerned because he is just so skinny even though he eats. What I am worried about his this chronic abdominal distention which starts up high right under his breastbone. He says it is not painful. Sometimes it seems fuller than at other times and I know he does have gas at times, but it seems to be chronically like that. I am not a nurse yet so I don't know what this could be but I am so worried. Next week I will make him a doctor appt here. His dad did take him to a doc who felt around on his belly and said everything was okay, but did not do any other testing. He just seems very puny, pale, his lips get blue easily when we are swimming. Could this be celiac disease, CF, or something else? I am worried sick. :confused:

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

We cannot give medical advice per TOS of this site.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I see that now from another poster's thread, that medical advice cannot be given. I was unaware of that when posting this. Sorry.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Yes, it's beyond the scope of our practice as nurses to offer medical advice. What we can tell you is to take your son to see his pediatrician and have his symptoms be evaluated. They sound like early indicators of celiac disease, but they could also be due to any number of conditions, many of which are (thankfully) much easier to diagnose and treat.

We wish you and your son well.

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