Coping with common gastrointestinal symptoms in the community: A global perspective on Heartburn, Constipation, Bloating, and Abdominal Pain/Discomfort May 2013

摘要

This guideline on a World Digestive Health Day theme is the first to take 4 key gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms as its starting-point: heartburn, abdominal pain/discomfort, bloating, and constipation. It is also unique in featuring 4 levels of care in a cascade approach: self-care and "over-the-counter (OTC)" aids; the pharmacist's view; the perspective of the primary care doctor—wherein symptoms play a primary role in patient presentation; and the specialist. This paper focuses on the first 3 levels; algorithms for the specialist can be found in the full version of this guideline on the World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO) Web site. The aim is to provide another unique and globally useful guideline that helps in the management of common, troubling but not disabling GI complaints. A team of GI and primary care experts, as well as the International Pharmaceutical Federation, were involved in the creation of the guideline.