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]

## Differential Diagnosis of Constipation and Abdominal Pain

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Diseases  | History and Symptoms  | Physical Examination  | Laboratory Findings  | Other Findings  | Diagnostic study of choice

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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
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

Hirschsprung disease | \-  | \+  | \-  | \+  | \+  | \-  | \-  | \-  | \-  | \-  | Blood tinged glove  | Normal  | Normal  | Normal  | Normal  |

* Abdominal distention
* Growth retardation
* Vomiting

* Barium enema

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

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