What symptom did the 17-year-old client with abdominal pain report that is concerning for possible complications?

Rebound tenderness is a critical symptom in a patient presenting with abdominal pain, particularly in the context of potential complications such as appendicitis or peritonitis. When a healthcare provider performs a physical examination and applies pressure to the abdomen, the presence of pain upon releasing the pressure—rebound tenderness—indicates inflammation and possible irritation of the abdominal lining. This sign suggests a more serious underlying condition that may necessitate surgical intervention, making it a concerning finding in a young client.

While severe nausea, frequent bowel movements, and fever can be symptomatic of various gastrointestinal issues, they do not specifically indicate the same level of urgency or potential for complications that rebound tenderness does. Nausea may indicate gastrointestinal upset but lacks the direct association with inflammation, frequent bowel movements can suggest various conditions and are not as critically alarming, and fever can suggest infection but does not indicate the same localized abdominal pathology. Thus, rebound tenderness stands out as the symptom that raises significant concern for complications that need immediate attention.