Hamdalat G., 17

Hamdalat is the youngest of seven children. She lost her mother about six years ago and has since been living with her father. She recently completed her secondary school education and is a lively, sociable young girl known for her friendly personality and excellent communication skills. She dreams of becoming a lawyer and building a successful future. The family lives in a two-room uncompleted building with the father, two wives, and five children. The father is a yam and cashew farmer earning about ₦20,000 monthly, while two of the children attend day school with help from others who assist with their school fees. The family gets water from a well and borehole and has electricity but no television. They often have yam and palm oil for breakfast and rely on hand-me-down clothes from friends and family. Hamdalat presented with recurrent abdominal pain, particularly on the right side of her abdomen and needs help.

The findings are consistent with acute appendicitis and gastritis. Acute appendicitis requires prompt surgical evaluation and treatment, while gastritis requires appropriate medical management and investigation for underlying causes such as H. pylori With timely and appropriate treatment, the prognosis is generally good, with a high likelihood of full recovery. If left untreated appendicitis may progress to appendix rupture, severe infection, or other life-threatening complications. Untreated gastritis may worsen, causing persistent pain, ulcers, bleeding, and nutritional problems.