Change in Bowel Habit Flashcards
what are the 2 key areas to explore
Timeframe:
Duration + progression
Stool: How much+ how often Consistency colour contents Blood or mucus?
What relevant system review questions would you be asking?
Weight: loss? appetite change?
Work down the body: dysphasia Nausea/ vomiting Indigestion/ Gord Abdo pain tenesmus blood/ mucus in stool flatus
Colon cancer
Elderly
Bloody stools
Weight loss+ anemia (SOB, tiredness)
Gastroenteritis
Acute diarrhoea
N/V
IBD
diarrhoea and/or constipation
associated with stress
crampy abdo pain and bloating
coeliac disease
diarrhoea, steatorrhoea
Anemia
Abdo pain
Thyrotoxicosis
Diarrhoea Heat intolerance irritability / restlessness Tremor Oligomenorrhoea/ amenorrhoea
hypothyroidism
constipation
cold intolerance
lethergy
menorrhagia
Other differentials
Bowel obstruction Diet and life style changes perianal conditions (haemorrhoids, fissures) Drugs (opiates, iron, antacids, antibiotics) diverticulitis Overflow constipation Lactose intolerance Chronic infection
Top differential?
Elderly
Bloody stools
Weight loss+ anemia (SOB, tiredness)
Colon cancer
Top differential?
Acute diarrhoea
N/V
Gastroenteritis
Top differential?
diarrhoea and/or constipation
associated with stress
crampy abdo pain and bloating
IBD
Top differential?
diarrhoea, steatorrhoea
Anemia
Abdo pain
Coeliac disease
Top differential?
Diarrhoea Heat intolerance irritability / restlessness Tremor Oligomenorrhoea/ amenorrhoea
thyrotoxicosis
Top differential?
constipation
cold intolerance
lethergy
menorrhagia
Hypothyroid
