Gallbladder disease has been reported in Rett syndrome and can be overlooked when a person communicates pain non-verbally. It is only one possible cause of abdominal distress.
Key points to discuss:
- Record timing, duration and location clues, relation to meals, vomiting, temperature, stool changes and urine colour.
- Look for individual pain signals such as facial expression, guarding, altered breathing, sleep change or reduced interaction.
- Ask the clinician to consider constipation, reflux, urinary infection, menstrual pain, dental pain and medication effects as well as gallbladder disease.
- Testing should be based on clinical assessment; ultrasound or blood tests are not automatically required for every episode.
- A clear baseline description helps unfamiliar clinicians recognise change.
When to seek urgent help:
Seek urgent care for severe or persistent pain, repeated vomiting, fever, yellowing of skin/eyes, marked swelling, dehydration or collapse.
Sources:
- Consensus care guidelines: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7488790/
- The Kids Research Institute Rett publications: https://rett.thekids.org.au/our-research/publications/
Important: This post provides general information, not individual medical advice. Care and treatment must be personalised by qualified healthcare professionals. If you are worried that someone is seriously unwell, use your local urgent or emergency service.
Unexplained abdominal pain and gallbladder problems
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Important: Experiences shared by members are for support and information only and should not replace advice from a qualified healthcare professional.
Important: Experiences shared by members are for support and information only and should not replace advice from a qualified healthcare professional.