symptoms of digestive disorders
digestive disorders
Chronic Abdominal Pain and Recurring Abdominal Pain
Doctors first focus on whether the pain is functional pain or is caused by a disorder, drug, or toxin. Making this distinction may be difficult. However, if warning signs are present, functional pain is unlikely (but not impossible). The following symptoms are cause for concern: Fever Loss of appetite and weight Pain that awakens the person during the night Blood in vomit, stool, or urine Severe or frequent vomiting or diarrhea Jaundice in Adults (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes) Swelling of the abdomen and/or legs Difficulty swallowing If people with chronic abdominal pain develop warning signs, they should see a doctor right away unless the only warning signs are loss of appetite, jaundice, and/or swelling. People with loss of appetite, jaundice, and/or swelling or with steady, worsening pain should see a doctor within a few days. When warning signs are present, a physical cause is very likely. People without warning signs should see a doctor at some point, but a delay of a few days or so is not harmful. Doctors first ask questions about the person's symptoms and medical history. Doctors then do a physical examination. What they find during the history and physical examination often suggests a cause of the pain and the tests that may need to be done ( see Table: Physical Causes and Features of Chronic Abdominal Pain ). Doctors ask particularly about activities (such as eating, urinating, or having a bowel movement) that relieve or worsen the pain. Whether the pain or other digestive upset occurs after eating or drinking dairy products is important because lactose intolerance is common, especially among Black, Hispanic, Asian (particularly East Asian countries), and American Indian people. Doctors also ask about other symptoms (such as vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation), about diet, and about any surgery involving the abdomen, drugs used, and previous tests and treatments for the pain. Whether any family members have disorders that cause abdominal pain is also important. Doctors also ask about a person's diet because ingesting large amounts of cola beverages, fruit juices (which may contain significant quantities of the sugars fructose andsorbitol), or gas-producing foods (such as beans, onions, cabbage, and cauliflower) can sometimes be the cause of otherwise puzzling abdominal pain. The physical examination focuses particularly on the abdomen to identify any tender areas, masses, or enlarged organs. Usually, a rectal examination is done, and the doctor Stool Occult Blood Tests . A Between the initial visit and follow-up visits, people are often asked to record information about the pain, bowel movements, diet, any activities that seem to trigger pain, any remedies tried, and the effects of the remedies. Usually, doctors do certain tests. These tests include Urinalysis and Urine Culture , a Additional tests are done if any test results are abnormal, if people develop new symptoms, or if new abnormalities are detected during the examination. 