Assessment
Questionnaire
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a doctor would ask.
See what questions
a doctor would ask.
During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques to assess the symptom: Flatulence. These will include a physical examination and possibly diagnostic tests. (Note: A physical exam is always done, diagnostic tests may or may not be performed depending on the suspected condition) Your doctor will ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to openly share any pertinent information to help your doctor make an accurate diagnosis.
It is also very important to bring an up-to-date list of all of your all medical conditions, medications including dosages, and names of numbers of any specialist you see.
Create your printable checklist by answering questions that your doctor may ask below:
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Why: to establish if acute or chronic.
Why: to attempt to establish if flatulence is possibly within the realms of normal physical needs. Average number of times flatus is passed in a normal healthy person is 13 times per day.
Why: swallowed air is the major source of gas in the upper gastrointestinal tract. In most cases of excessive belching and excessive flatulence there is no underlying pathology and the situation probably represents an acquired habit. Air is sucked into the esophagus with each belch, thus the most useful therapeutic option is to concentrate on avoiding the next belch.
Why: In adults, lactose intolerance is the normal state in non- Caucasian populations.
Why: ingestion of poorly digestible but fermentable foods (such as sorbitol in diet drinks or chewing gum), high fiber diet, high legume diet and high brassica vegetable diet (cabbage and brussel sprouts) may increase the risk of excessive flatulence.
Why: e.g. history of gastrectomy (removal of stomach) may indicate that there is gastric dilatation due to the fact that the stomach fails to drain adequately.
Why: e.g. cystic fibrosis, colorectal cancer, celiac disease.
Why: would suggest reflux oesophagitis, gastric or duodenal ulcer or chronic cholecystitis.
Why: would indicate the possibility of partial intestinal obstruction, steatorrhea (excess fat in the stools due to malabsorption), diverticulitis or irritable bowel syndrome.
Why: e.g. nervousness, shakiness, tremor, restlessness, irritability, insomnia, poor concentration, heart palpitations, racing heart, sweating, dizziness, diarrhea, loss of appetite, lump in throat - may indicate that aerophagia (swallowing air) is the cause of flatulence.
Why: e.g. bloating, abdominal distention, alternating constipation and diarrhea, nausea, excessive flatus.
Why: e.g. sudden onset of severe constant epigastric pain which may pass into the back. Symptoms are induced by a fatty meal.
Why: e.g. intermittent symptoms of gnawing or burning-type pain in the epigastrium (midline, under the ribs) which can be located by finger point, pain is worse before meals and relieved by taking antacids or food. Pain may waken the person at night.
Why: e.g. watery diarrhea, crampy abdominal pain, nausea, excessive flatulence, foul-smelling stools, stools may be greasy, bulky, pale and floating.
The following list of conditions have 'Flatulence' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.
Select from the following alphabetical view of conditions which include a symptom of Flatulence or choose View All.
The following list of medical conditions have 'Flatulence'
or similar listed as a medical complication in our database.
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Copyright © 2011 Health Grades Inc. All rights reserved. Last Update: 1 February, 2012 (3:28)
