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What Causes Pain In Upper Rib Cage Area?
Question: Hi there,
My 16 year old is experiencing pain on his side in his upper rib cage area. About a week ago on his right side, had bad pain for 3 days. Now right side is good but now his left side has the same pain in the upper rib cage area. He has not fallen, been hit, or stretched/worked out. Any ideas what this may be and should we check into it further?
XXXXX
My 16 year old is experiencing pain on his side in his upper rib cage area. About a week ago on his right side, had bad pain for 3 days. Now right side is good but now his left side has the same pain in the upper rib cage area. He has not fallen, been hit, or stretched/worked out. Any ideas what this may be and should we check into it further?
XXXXX
Brief Answer:
several ideas
Detailed Answer:
Cannot be definite without directly examining. And, one approach is to run through what is there and use that to say what is likely to be occurring. Since it is both sides, symmetric, similar feeling both sides, then that would imply it is something that is on both sides. Appendix, liver, stomach are one side. The bottom of the lung ...the diaphram is on both sides. It can be strained by over exercise but more commonly from asthma or other lung irritation. The pain is worse with deep breathing, often on both sides and quite INTERMITTENT.
Pretty much the entire list (strained muscle, very mild asthma, mild lung viral infection) are very temporary improving in about a day. The fact that it is lasting longer than that implies something else (asthma or infection that is lingering) and would be reason to have it looked at (NOT in an emergency setting).
several ideas
Detailed Answer:
Cannot be definite without directly examining. And, one approach is to run through what is there and use that to say what is likely to be occurring. Since it is both sides, symmetric, similar feeling both sides, then that would imply it is something that is on both sides. Appendix, liver, stomach are one side. The bottom of the lung ...the diaphram is on both sides. It can be strained by over exercise but more commonly from asthma or other lung irritation. The pain is worse with deep breathing, often on both sides and quite INTERMITTENT.
Pretty much the entire list (strained muscle, very mild asthma, mild lung viral infection) are very temporary improving in about a day. The fact that it is lasting longer than that implies something else (asthma or infection that is lingering) and would be reason to have it looked at (NOT in an emergency setting).
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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