Abdominal Pain: Medical History

Medical history (history of illness) represents an important component in the diagnosis of abdominal pain (abdominal pain). Family history

• Are there any conditions in your family that are common?
• What is the general health of your family members?

Social history

• What is your profession?
• Are you exposed to harmful working substances in your profession?
• Is there any evidence of psychosocial stress or strain due to your family situation?

Current medical history/systemic history (somatic and psychological complaints).

• How long has the abdominal pain been present? Has the pain changed? Become more severe?
• Did the pain come on suddenly? *
• Where did the pain start?
• Where exactly is the pain localized now? Does the pain radiate out?
• What is the character of the pain? Stabbing, dull, burning, tearing, colicky, etc.?
• When does the pain occur? Are you dependent on external factors such as diet, stress, weather?
• Is the pain dependent on breathing? *
• Does the pain intensify or get better with exertion/movement?
• Does the pain get better with:
  • Exercise?
  • Standing?
  • Eating?
  • Bowel movement?
  • Heat?
• Does the pain get worse from:
  • Family problems?
  • Excitement?
  • Effort?
  • Other?
• Are there any other symptoms (e.g., nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, flatulence, difficulty swallowing, heartburn, etc.) in addition to abdominal pain?
• Have you had any recent injuries?
• Do you have a fever?
• Do you have any gynecological abnormalities (e.g., period pain; missed period)?
• Do you have night pain that wakes you up?

Vegetative anamnesis including nutritional anamnesis.

• Have you lost body weight?
• Has your appetite changed?
• Do you consume dairy products, fruits or fruit juices excessively? Do you consume or drink sweetener (sorbitol)-containing foods or beverages?
• Do you suffer from sleep disorders?
• Do you have abnormalities in urination?
• Have there been any changes in bowel movements and/or urination? In quantity, consistency, admixtures? Does it come to pain in the process?
• Do you smoke? If so, how many cigarettes, cigars or pipes per day?
• Do you drink alcohol? If yes, what drink(s) and how many glasses per day?
• Do you use drugs? If yes, what drugs and how often per day or per week?

Self history incl. medication history.

• Pre-existing conditions (gastrointestinal diseases).
• Operations
• Allergies
• Environmental history (arsenic, lead, intoxication by spider, snake, insect venoms).

Drug history

• Anthelmintics (albendazole, mebendazole, niclosamide, praziquantel).
• Antibiotics
  • Cotrimoxazole
  • Daptomycin
  • Macrolides (erythromycin-AT, spiramycin)
• Antiepileptic drugs (carbamazepine, gabapentin, pregabalin).
• Antiarrhythmics (cardiac glycosides/digoxin).
• Antimalarials (atovaquone + proguanil; quinine intoxication).
• Beta-blockers (acebutolol, atenolol, esmolol, metoprolol, oxprenolol, propranolol).
• Calcium-free phosphate binders (lanthanum, sevelamer).
• Cholesterol resorption inhibitors (ezetimibe).
• Coxibs (celecoxib, parecoxib)
• HCV protease inhibitors (boceprevir).
• Cardiac glycosides (digoxin, ß-acetyldigoxin, ß-methyldigoxin, digitoxin).
• Hormones
  • ADH analogues (desmopressin)
  • Bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist (Icatibant).
  • Cholecystokinin analogues (ceruletide).
  • Dopamine agonists (bromocriptine, cabergoline).
  • Somatostatin analogues (octreotide, lanreotide).
  • Somatostatin (derivatives) – somatostatin
  • Vasopressin (Terlipressin)
• Laxatives (lactulose)
• Mucolytics (bromhexine)
• Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) – efavirenz, nevirapine.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (diclofenac, ibuprofen).
• Opioid receptor antagonist (naltrexone).
• Phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor/PDE4 inhibitor (apremilast).
• Phytosterols such as ß-sitosterol
• Prokinetic laxatives (ceruletide)
• Secretolytics (ambroxol)
• Antivirals
  • Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) – efavirenz, nevirapine.
  • NMDA antagonist (amantadine).
  • Nucleoside analogue (aciclovir, ganciclovir).

* If this question has been answered with “Yes”, an immediate visit to the doctor is required! (Data without guarantee)