Survey of the patient with gastrointestinal symptoms

Every patient with gastrointestinal symptoms should be thoroughly questioned. The physician is to find out if the patient has an increase or a decrease in appetite, nausea, sour eructations (кислая отрыжка), vomiting, belching (отрыжка), abdominal pain, jaundice. He must also know the character and color of the stool. A brief outline of the diet should be obtained.

The physician should never be satisfied to accept the vague term “indigestion”. He is to ask the patient what he means by this term. Some will report a mere uncomfortable sensation in the abdomen after eating, while others under careful interrogation will describe pains typical of peptic ulcer or gallbladder disease.

If there has been vomiting, the physician should know about its appearance. He should ask: Have you vomited? Do you still vomit? Do you vomit blood?

Pain should be localized if possible. To do it the doctor may ask: Have you any pain? In the abdomen? When does it occur? How severe is it? Does the pain radiate? Where does the pain radiate? What type of pain is it (sharp, burning, spasmodic, or a dull ache). In what side? What has been taken for relief – food or soda?

Time spent in obtaining an accurate story may save time and effort later on.

XII. Read the dialogue and speak about boy’s complaints, physical examination made by the doctor and the prescribed treatment.