Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Practice Exam

A 27-year-old male with acute abdominal pain is found curled in a fetal position. This position is most commonly observed in patients with which condition?

1. Gastroenteritis

2. Cholecystitis

3. Appendicitis

4. Peptic ulcer disease

The correct answer is: Appendicitis

The fetal position in which a patient is curled up with knees drawn to the chest is often a response to abdominal pain, as it can help relieve discomfort. This position is particularly associated with conditions that cause significant inner organ distress or irritation, such as appendicitis. In appendicitis, inflammation of the appendix leads to severe abdominal pain, typically starting around the umbilical area and then localizing to the right lower quadrant. As the pain intensifies, patients may instinctively adopt the fetal position to alleviate discomfort, as this can provide some relief from the acute pain associated with the condition. In contrast, while gastroenteritis, cholecystitis, and peptic ulcer disease can also cause abdominal pain, they may not elicit the same instinctive posture to the extent seen in appendicitis. Patients with gastroenteritis might present with watery diarrhea and generalized discomfort rather than a specific position. Those with cholecystitis may favor sitting up or leaning forward in an attempt to ease biliary colic pain. Lastly, individuals with peptic ulcer disease may present with a range of symptoms but are not typically associated with the fetal position due to the nature of the pain or location of the ulcer. Thus, the