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Abdomen - swollen 11/16/2008
Swollen belly; Swelling in the abdomen; Abdominal distention; Distended abdomen Considerations: Abdominal swelling, or distention, is a common condition, which usually results from over-eating, rather than from a serious illness. Simple weight gain , premenstrual syndrome (PMS) , pregnancy, or the unconscious swallowing of air can lead to this problem.

Abdominal bloating 03/08/2008
Bloating; Meteorism Considerations: Common Causes: Air swallowing (a nervous habit) Constipation Excess gas in the bowel Irritable bowel syndrome Lactose intolerance and other food intolerances Overeating Partial bowel obstruction Small bowel bacterial overgrowth Important but uncommon causes of abdominal bloating include ascites and tumors, such as those arising from ovarian cancer .

Abdominal mass 11/16/2008
Mass in the abdomen Considerations: An abdominal mass is usually detected on routine physical examination . Most of the time they develop slowly. You may not be able to feel the mass. Where the pain occurs helps the doctor make a diagnosis. For example, the abdomen is usually divided into four areas: Right-upper quadrant Left-upper quadrant Right-lower quadrant Left-lower quadrant Other terms used to specify the location of abdominal pain or masses include: Epigastric -- center of the abdomen just below the ribcage Periumbilical -- the area around the bellybutton The location of the mass, and its firmness, texture, and other qualities can provide clues as to the cause of an abdominal mass.

Abdominal pain 04/25/2008
Stomach pain; Pain - abdomen; Belly ache; Abdominal cramps Considerations: There are many organs in the abdomen. Pain in the abdomen can originate from any one of them, including: Organs related to digestion -- the end of the esophagus, the stomach, the small and large intestines, the liver, the gallbladder, and the pancreas.

Abdominal rigidity 11/16/2008
Rigidity of the abdomen Considerations: When there is a sore area in the abdomen, the pain becomes more intense as the hand presses against it and overcomes the muscular resistance. A patient's fear or nervousness about being touched (palpated) in the abdominal area is referred to as voluntary rigidity. It usually occurs on both sides of the abdomen.

Abdominal sounds 11/16/2008
Bowel sounds Considerations: Abdominal sounds (bowel sounds) are made by the movement of the intestines as they push food through. Since the intestines are hollow, bowel sounds can echo throughout the abdomen much like the sounds heard from water-pipes. The majority of bowel sounds are harmless and simply indicate that the gastrointestinal tract is working. A doctor can evaluate abdominal sounds by listening to the abdomen with a stethoscope ( auscultation ).

Abnormal posturing 03/20/2007
Pathologic posturing Considerations: Abnormal posturing may be a sign of serious central nervous system damage. Normally, when a muscle contracts, the muscles on the opposite side of the joint provide some resistance to contraction.

Agitation 05/26/2008
Restlessness Considerations: Extreme agitation can lead to: Confusion Hostility Hyperactivity Agitation can come on suddenly or over time. It can last for just a few minutes, or for weeks and even months. Pain, stress, and fever can all increase agitation. Agitation by itself may not be a sign of a health problem. However, if other symptoms occur, it can be a sign of disease.

Ambiguous genitalia 05/01/2007
Genitals - ambiguous Considerations: The genetic sex of a child is determined at conception. The mother's egg cell (ovum) contains an X chromosome , while the father's sperm cell contains either an X or a Y chromosome. These X and Y chromosomes determine the child's genetic sex. Normally, an infant inherits one pair of sex chromosomes -- one X from the mother and one X or one Y from the father.

Anisocoria 04/30/2007
Enlargement of one pupil; Pupils of different size; Eyes/pupils different size Considerations: Occasionally, a baby is born with different sized pupils and there is no underlying disorder. If other family members also have this condition, then pupil size is possibly genetic and is nothing to worry about. At times, for unknown reasons, pupils may differ in size.

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