CPD Articles
A primary care approach to abdominal pain in adults
Submitted: 10 February 2021 | Published: 10 March 2021
About the author(s)
Indiran Govender, Department of Family Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South AfricaSelvandran Rangiah, Department of Family Medicine, School of Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
Tombo Bongongo, Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Ga-Rankuwa, South Africa
Philemon Mahuma, Department of Family Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
Abstract
Abdominal pain is a common presenting problem with multiple aetiologies that often pose diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas for primary care practitioners. The vague symptomatology and difficult correlation to specific organ pathology obscures clinical findings leading to incorrect diagnoses. Although most presentations of abdominal pain are benign, a significant number of patients have life-threatening conditions that require a meticulous approach to management in order to prevent morbidity and mortality.
The skill in assessing patients presenting with abdominal pain is fundamental for all primary care doctors. This review will discuss an approach to the assessment and diagnosis of abdominal pain in the primary care setting.
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