Constipation and weight loss

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Eiman Ghaffarpasand, M.D. [2]

Diseases	History and Symptoms								Physical Examination				Laboratory Findings			Other Findings	Diagnostic study of choice
	History and Symptoms								Physical Examination				Electrolyts [Ca, K, Mg]	Biochemical tests
	GI symptoms				Extra GI symptoms				Abnormal gait	Anal protruding mass	DRE	Deep tendon reflex		FBS	TSH
	Dysphagia	Abdominal pain	Anal pain	Rectal bleeding	Weight loss	Polyphagia, Polyuria, Polydipsia	Dry skin	Tremor	Abnormal gait	Anal protruding mass	DRE	Deep tendon reflex		FBS	TSH
Malignancy	–	–	+/-	+	++	–	–	–	–	–	Empty rectum	Normal	Normal	Normal	Normal	Acute change in bowel habits Rectal bleeding Anemia	Rectosigmoidoscopy with biopsy
Diabetic autonomic neuropathy	–	–	–	–	+	++	+/-	–	+/-	–	Normal	↓	Normal	↑↑	Normal	Distal neuropathy Gastroparesis Nausea and vomiting	FBS and HbA1C
Anorexia nervosa	–	–	–	–	++	–	+/-	–	–	–	Normal	Normal	↓ Electrolytes	↓	Normal	↓↓↓ BMI Amenorrhea Depressed mood	Clinical characteristics
Depression	–	–	–	–	+	–	–	–	–	–	Normal	Normal	Normal	Normal	Normal	Hopelessness Weakness and fatigue Depressed mood	Psychological examination
Hirschsprung disease	–	+	–	+	+	–	–	–	–	–	Blood tinged glove	Normal	Normal	Normal	Normal	Abdominal distention Growth retardation Vomiting	Barium enema
Cerebral palsy	+	–	–	–	+	–	–	+	+	–	Normal	↑	Normal	Normal	Normal	Spastic extremities paralysis Paresthesia	Brain MRI Physical examination
Chagas disease	+	–	–	–	+	–	–	–	–	–	Normal	↓	Normal	Normal	Normal	Cardiomyopathy Megaesophagus or megacolon	Peripheral blood smear
Cystic fibrosis	–	+	–	–	+	–	–	–	–	–	Normal	Normal	Normal	Normal	Normal	Recurrent pneumonia Absent vas deferens	Sweat Cl test

Constipation and weight loss

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