A 10-year-old boy presents with abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weight loss. His mother mentions he has been drinking excessive amounts of water and urinating frequently. What condition should be suspected?
- A) Appendicitis
- B) Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus ✓
- C) Gastroenteritis
- D) Celiac Disease
The presentation of a 10-year-old boy with abdominal pain, chronic diarrhea, weight loss, polydipsia (excessive thirst), and polyuria (frequent urination) strongly suggests Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM).
These symptoms align with hyperglycemia-induced osmotic diuresis (causing polyuria and compensatory polydipsia) and catabolic breakdown of fat/muscle due to insulin deficiency (leading to weight loss). Abdominal pain may indicate early diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a life-threatening complication of T1DM caused by metabolic acidosis from ketone accumulation.
