Gastroenterology Flashcards
frequency of GI complaints in pediatrics
2nd MC after respiratory illnesses
type of exam required with GI complaints
complete abdominal
- visual inspection
- distention, discoloration, veins, jaundice, scars, ostomies
- auscultation
- normal, hypo/hyper, absent, high pitched
- palpation
- organomegaly, retained feces, masses
- rectal exam
- masses, fissures, abscesses, fistulas, rectal tone, content
abnormal visual exam of abdomen
- line of differentiation at ribs
- abnormal venous pattern
question to ask parent of child with frequent/persistent abdominal pain
Can you tell when the child is in pain,
or only if they tell you?
(child usually not functional if > 6/10 pain)
causes of acute vs. gradual pain
acute - obstruction, rupture
gradual - inflammatory: appendicitis, inflammed bowel
acute abdominal pain
labs
- CBC
- CRP
- ESR
- pregnancy
- UA
- AST/ALT/GGT, bilirubin
acute abdominal pain
imaging
- abdominal xray/series
- CT
- US
- endoscopy
- flouroscopy w/ contrast
non-surgical DDx of acute abdominal pain
- viral illness
- acute gastroenteritis
- food intollerance
- pneumonia
- gastritis (food related or post-infectious)
- constipation
- UTI
peak incidence ages of chronic abdominal pain
7-12
chronic abdominal pain
warning signs of underlying illness
- vomiting
- fever
- growth failure/weight loss
- blood in stool or emesis
- abnormal labs
- bilious emesis
- pain wakens child from sleep
- location other than periumbilicus
chronic abdominal pain
when to assess
anxious chid/parent, missed school
chronic abdominal pain
history to examine
- family Hx GI
- family Hx anxiety
- diet - too much of one, not enough of another
- lifestyle - sleep, meals, school, stressors
chronic abdominal pain
PE key check
sick vs. not sick
(determines urgency)
chronic abdominal pain
labs
- CBC
- ESR/CRP
- ALT/AST, GGT, bilirubin
- amylase/lipase
- UA
- address psych issues
2 common causes of chronic abdominal pain
- functional abdominal pain
- daily pain not assoc. w/ meals or BMs
- anxious/perfectionist
- “bounce back” after few min. of rest
- no warning signs of serious illness
- IBS
- alternating diarrhea and constipation