Dyspepsia

Question 1

What is it?

What may come alongside it?

What is it also known as?

Answer 1

Epigastric and or retrosternal

Discomfort/pain/burning

Due to an upper GI oesophageal gastric or duodenal problem

Fullness
Belching
Nausea

Heartburn
Indigestion

Question 2

Causes:

• Functional
• Most common cause
• Oesophageal causes
• Gastric causes - not ulcer

Answer 2

Non-ulcer dyspepsia - aka functionally dyspepsia

PUD

GORD
Oesophagitis
Oesophageal cancer

Gastritis
Gastric cancer

Question 3

What questions should you ask in a history?

Answer 3

Does it happen when you are hungry?

Specific foods?

Time of day?

Fullness after meals

Heartburn (retrosternal pain)

Question 4

Red flag symptoms - mneumonic

A 
L 
A 
R
M
S

Answer 4

Anaemia - iron deficiency

Loss of weight

Anorexia - malnutrition

Recent onset/progressive symptoms

Melaena/haematemesis

Swallowing difficulty