History Taking - Abdominal Pain

Question 1

Introduction:

Answer 1

AAA

Question 2

Presenting complaint:

Answer 2

• Why have you come in today

- How long has that being going on for

Question 3

History of presenting complaint:

Answer 3

SOCRATES

Systematic enquiry:

• Dysphagia (type of food, associated symptoms - odynophagia, progressive or intermittent, does food come back up?)
• Changes in the mouth (i.e mouth ulcers)
• Nausea/ vomiting ( ask timing, colour, haematemesis)
• Heartburn
• Weight loss (changes in appetite?)
• Abdominal bloating
• Changes in bowel habit (what specifically, if diarrhoea then ask about onset, character - colour contents consistency frequency volume, have you had this in the past? Exacerbating factors)
• Any symptoms around the anal area such as itching
• Jaundice