Dyspepsia physical examination

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ajay Gade MD[2]]

Patients with dyspepsia may appear pale. Some patients may appear fatigued and in distress due to associated abdominal pain. Vital signs generally appear to be normal. When associated with gastrointestinal bleeding, vital signs include tachycardia. Pallor may observed in patients presenting with melena and hematemesis. On examination of the eyes, conjunctival pallor may be observed. Halitosis may be observed in case of chronic gastritis. Chest tenderness may be present on palpation in case of Helicobacter pylori infection associated gastritis. Epigastric tenderness may be present. Gastritis associated with gastric ulcers may result in blood loss and the stool test may be guaiac-positive.

Physical examination of patients with dyspepsia may show the following signs and symptoms:^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

• Patients with dyspepsia may appear pale. Some patients may appear fatigued and in distress due to associated abdominal pain.

• Vital signs are usually normal
• When associated with gastrointestinal bleed, tachycardia may be observed

• Pallor may observed in patients presenting with melena and hematemesis

• On examination of the eyes, conjunctival pallor may be observed

• Normal vesicular breath sounds are observed
• Halitosis may be observed in case of chronic gastritis

• Chest tenderness may be present on palpation in case of Helicobacter pylori infection associated dyspepsia
• S1 and S2 are normal

• Epigastric tenderness may be present
• Dyspepsia associated with gastric ulcers may result in blood loss and the stool test may be guaiac-positive

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