How Is Functional Abdominal Pain Diagnosed ?

There is not one test that can 100% confirm you have functional abdominal pain or a Disorder of Gut-Brain Interaction (DGBI).  The goal of diagnosis for a pediatric gastroenterologist is to make sure you don’t have any other gastrointestinal disorders and to diagnose functional abdominal pain.

 

 

Other Diagnoses That May Be Considered When You Have Chronic Abdominal Pain

  •  Acid Reflux
  • Parasitic infections
  • Constipation
  • Bacterial infections
  • Food Allergies
  • Eosinophilic Esophagitis
  • Celiac disease
  • Inflammatory Bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis)

Most importantly in the diagnostic process is your doctor taking a comprehensive medical history.  That means your doctor will ask you detailed questions about your pooping patterns, eating habits, stress levels and stressors, how the abdominal pain started, how long it has lasted, how it has changed over time and if anything makes the pain better or worse.  Sometimes a doctor can hear your story and make a diagnosis of functional abdominal pain or DGBI. Other times, the doctor may want to perform tests to make sure you don’t have a different gastrointestinal disorder.

TESTING YOUR DOCTOR MAY USE TO EVALUATE YOUR ABDOMINAL PAIN

  • Physical Exam where doctor presses on abdomen

    •  

  • X-ray, ultrasound, or CT scan to look for structural problems

    •  

  • Bloodwork to look for infection, anemia or inflammation
  • Endoscopy or colonoscopy to look for inflammation within digestive tract
  • Stool tests to check for inflammation, parasites or to check whether your stool has blood in it
  • Breath tests to check for carbohydrate malabsorption like lactose or fructose intolerance

Talking to your doctor honestly about your symptoms is critical to getting the right  diagnosis. Your provider will take the info you provide, use any testing methods they think are appropriate and get you the correct diagnosis and treatment plan for your condition.