Approach to the adult with dyspepsia

Abstract

Dyspepsia corresponds to a syndrome and not to an isolated diagnosis or symptom as such. It involves a heterogeneous group of symptoms located in the upper abdomen. Depending on the etiology, it may be an organic dyspepsia or a functional dyspepsia. Any patient presenting for the first time with these symptoms is classified as uninvestigated dyspepsia. In these cases, 3 possible strategies can be followed, including: upper endoscopy, examining and treating for Helicobacter pylori or a proton pump inhibitor trial; the approach chosen will depend on the factors of each patient. In the case of functional dyspepsia, treatment includes general measures such as changes in diet and medications such as proton pump inhibitors. Like any functional disorder of the digestive system, the probability of recurrence of symptoms is high when treatment is suspended, even so the prognosis of the disease is completely benign.