Screening of GIT

Diseases
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF
GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS

Abdominal pain
Dysphagia
Odynophagia
 GI bleeding (emesis, melena, red
blood)
 Epigastric pain
Constipation
 Diarrhea
Fecal incontinence
Arthralgia
Referredshoulder pain
Psoas abscess
Tenderness over McBurney's
point
Primary GI Visceral Pain
Patterns
Pain in the epigastric region
occurs anywhere from the
midsternum to the xiphoid
process from the heart,
esophagus, stomach, duodenum,
gallbladder, liver, and other
mediastinal organs corresponding
to the T3 to T5 sympathetic
nerve distribution.
Pain in the periumbilical region
(T9 nerve distribution) occurs
with impairment of the small
intestine pancreas, and appendix.
Pain in the lower abdominal
region (hypogastrium) from the
large intestine and/or colon. The
large intestine and colon are
innervated by T10 to L2
depending on the location.
Dysphagia

Dysphagia is the sensation of

food catching or sticking in the
esophagus. This sensation may
occur (initially) just with coarse,
dry foods and may eventually
progress to include anything
swallowed, even thin liquids and
saliva.
Odynophagia
Odynophagia, or pain during
swallowing, can be caused by
esophagitis or esophageal spasm.
Esophagitis may occur secondary
to GERD, the herpes simplex
virus, or fungus caused by the
prolonged use of strong
antibiotics.
GIT bleeding
Coffee ground emesis
Bloody diarrhea
Bright red blood
Melena (dark, tarry stools)
Reddish colored stools
 Epigastric Pain with Radiation

Epigastric pain perceived as intense or

sharp pain behind the sternum with
radiation to the back may occur
secondary to long-standing ulcers.
 For example, the client may be aware of
an ulcer but does not relate the back pain
to the ulcer. Close questioning related to
GI symptoms can provide the therapist
with knowledge of underlying systemic
disease processes.
Symptoms Affected by
Food
Patients may or may not be able
to relate pain to meals. Pain
associated with gastric ulcers
(located more proximally in the
GI tract) may begin within 30 to
90 minutes after eating.
Constipation

Constipation is defined clinically

as being a condition of prolonged
retention of fecal content in the
GI tract resulting from decreased
motility of the colon or difficulty
in expelling stool.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea, by definition, is an
abnormal increase in stool
liquidity and daily stool weight
associated with increased stool
frequency (i.e., more than three
times per day).
Fecal incontinence
Fecal incontinence may be
described as an inability to
control evacuation of stool and is
associated with a sense of
urgency, diarrhea, and abdominal
cramping.
Arthralgia
The relationship between "gut"
inflammation and joint
inflammation is well known, but
not fully understood. Many
inflammatory GI conditions have
an arthritic component affecting
the joints. For example,
inflammatory bowel disease
Shoulder pain
Pain in the left shoulder (Kehr's
sign) can occur as a result of free
air or blood in the abdominal
cavity, such as a ruptured spleen
causing distention.
obturator or psoas
abscess
Abscess of the obturator or psoas
muscle is a possible cause of
lower abdominal pain, usually the
consequence of spread of
inflammation or infection from an
adjacent structure.
Clinical Signs and Symptoms of
Psoas Abscess
Fever
 Night sweats
 Abdominal pain
Loss of appetite or other Gl upset
Back, pelvic, abdominal, hip, and/or
knee
pain
Antalgic gait
Palpable, tender mass
GERD
Heartburn
Regurgitation with bitter taste in
mouth
Chest pain unrelated to activity
 Sensation of a lump in the throat
Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
Painful swallowing (odynophagia)
Wheezing, coughing, hoarseness
Gastroesophageal reflux
disease, or GERD, is a
digestive disorder that
affects the lower esophageal
sphincter (LES), the ring of
muscle between the
esophagus and stomach.
Many people, including
pregnant women, suffer from
heartburn or acid indigestion
caused by GERD.
Peptic ulcer
Peptic ulcer is a loss of tissue
lining the lower esophagus,
stomach, and duodenum.
Epigastric pain that may be
described as "heartburn" or as
burning, cramping, or aching
located over a small area near
the midline in the epigastrium
near the xiphoid.
Appendicitis
Appendicitis is an inflammation of the
appendix that occurs most commonly in
adolescents and young adults.
The classic symptoms of appendicitis
are pain preceding nausea and vomiting
and low-grade fever in adults.
The pain usually begins in the umbilical
region and eventually localizes in the
right lower quadrant of the abdomen
over the site of the appendix
Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the
pancreas that may result in
autodigestion of the pancreas by its
own enzymes. Pancreatitis can be
acute or chronic, but the therapist is
most likely to see acute pancreatitis.
Epigastric pain radiating to the back,
Nausea and vomiting, Fever and
sweating, Tachycardia, turner,s sign
Turner's sign refers to bruising
of the flanks, the part of the body
between the last rib and the top
of the hip. The bruising appears
as a blue discoloration, and is a
sign of retroperitoneal
hemorrhage, or bleeding behind
the peritoneum, which is a lining
of the abdominal cavity.
Pancreatic carcinoma
Pancreaticcarcinoma is the fifth
most common cause of death
from cancer for women and
fourth most common for men.
Gastrointestinal
Complications of NSAIDs ?