Constipation and abdominal pain

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Eiman Ghaffarpasand, M.D. [2]

Diseases		History and Symptoms								Physical Examination				Laboratory Findings			Other Findings	Diagnostic study of choice
														Electrolyts [Ca, K, Mg]	Biochemical tests
		GI symptoms				Extra GI symptoms				Abnormal gait	Anal protruding mass	DRE	Deep tendon reflex		FBS	TSH
		Dysphagia	Abdominal pain	Anal pain	Rectal bleeding	Weight loss	Polyphagia, Polyuria, Polydipsia	Dry skin	Tremor
Gastrointestinal diseases	Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)	-	+	+/-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Normal	Normal	Normal	Normal	Normal	Frequent change in bowel habit Abdominal pain alleviating with bowel movement	Rolling out other pathophysiologies
	Diverticulosis	-	+	-	+	-	-	-	-	-	-	Normal	Normal	Normal	Normal	Normal	Chronic constipation Bowel obstruction	Colonoscopy
Neurogenic diseases	Hirschsprung disease	-	+	-	+	+	-	-	-	-	-	Blood tinged glove	Normal	Normal	Normal	Normal	Abdominal distention Growth retardation Vomiting	Barium enema
Endocrine diseases	Cystic fibrosis	-	+	-	-	+	-	-	-	-	-	Normal	Normal	Normal	Normal	Normal	Recurrent pneumonia Absent vas deferens	Sweat Cl test
	Lead poisoning	-	+++	-	-	-	-	-	+	-	-	Normal	Normal	Normal	Normal	Normal	Sideroblastic anemia Dysesthesia Amnesia	Plasma lead level
Electrolyte disturbances	Hypomagnesemia	-	+	-	-	-	-	-	+	-	-	Normal	↓	↓↓ Mg	Normal	Normal	Nystagmus Seizure	Plasma Mg level
	Hypocalcemia/Hypercalcemia	-	+	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Normal	↓	↓Ca/↑Ca	Normal	Normal	Muscle weakness Dysesthesia	Plasma Ca level
	Hypokalemia	-	+	-	-	-	-	-	-	+/-	-	Normal	↓	↓K	Normal	Normal	Metabolic alkalosis Paralysis Seizure	Plasma K level