​Symptoms and Signs – Differential Diagnosis of Constipation

​Symptoms and Signs – Differential Diagnosis of Constipation
• Volvulus
• Tuberculous stricture
• Strangulated femoral hernia
• Poor dietary habits: insufficient bulk in diet, inadequate fluid intake
• Painful anal conditions: hemorrhoids, fissure, stricture
• Irritable bowel syndrome, pregnancy, anorexia nervosa, depression
• Intussusception
• Intestinal obstruction
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Hypercalcemia or hypokalemia, uremia
• Hirschsprung’s disease, meconium ileus, congenital atresia in infants
• Hematoma of bowel wall, secondary to trauma or anticoagulants
• GI neoplasm
• Gallstone ileus
• Fecal impaction
• Drugs: codeine, morphine, antacids with aluminum, verapamil, anticonvulsants, anticholinergics, disopyramide, cholestyramine, alosetron, iron supplements
• Diverticular disease
• Decreased intestinal peristalsis: old age, spinal cord injuries, myxedema, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, parkinsonism and other neurologic diseases
• Change from daily routine: travel, hospital admission, physical inactivity
• Ameboma
• Adhesions
• Acute abdominal conditions: renal colic, salpingitis, biliary colic, appendicitis, ischemia