The document discusses the digestive system and history taking for digestive issues. It provides information on the structure and function of the digestive tract. It emphasizes the importance of obtaining a thorough patient history, including details on symptom onset, presentation, and warning signs. A patient's history is key to evaluating GI disorders and developing an appropriate diagnostic and treatment plan. It also lists and explains common gastrointestinal symptoms that may present in a patient's history.

3. Digestive system
 The Digestive Tract Also called the Gastrointestinal (GI) tract
or alimentary canal Is a muscular tube which Extends from
the mouth to the anus.
 It Passes through the pharynx, esophagus, stomach, and
small and large intestines. It is composed of the upper GI
tract (oral cavity, esophagus, and duodenum), lower GI tract
(small intestine, cecum, colon, rectum, and anus), and
associated glandular organs (gallbladder, pancreas, and
liver).
 The digestive system is responsible for ingestion, mechanical
processing, digestion, secretion, absorption, immunity and
waste excretion.

4. History taking on digestive system
 The patient history is key to evaluating gastrointestinal (GI) tract
disorders and should include the problem onset, the setting in
which it developed, and its presentation.
 Patient warning signs and alarm symptoms should be identified
quickly and when referral is needed for further evaluation and
intervention, it should be obtained in a prompt manner.
 The gastro intestinal tract starts from the mouth to the anus and
any part of it can be affected by a pathology.
 The purpose of history taking is to obtain a clear and detailed
picture of the patient’s complaints. Therefore, it is used to narrow
the focus of the diagnostic and therapeutic plan for the patient.

5. History of presenting complaint
 The Healthcare provider who is going to take the patient history
will wash the hands, introduce him/her(self) to the client, have
the client’s names and date of birth, have the consent and
ensures that the client is in a comfortable seating.
 Every sick person presents at the consultation room for a
certain reason; that reason for looking care is the presenting
complaint (s).
 In order to elicit the client’s presenting complaint, it is
recommended to allow the client time to answer, try not to
interrupt or direct the conversation, and help the client expand
on their PC (Presenting complaint) There are a many GI (Gastro
intestinal) symptoms and some can be specific to the upper GI
tract, some to the lower GI tract and others can be specific to
the hepatobiliary system.

6. Common symptoms of the gastro intestinal tract
SYMPTOM
S
EXPLANATIONS
Nausea Spontaneous sensation of the need to vomit, it is not
necessarily accompanied by vomiting
Vomiting or emesis is clinically defined as the oral eviction of
gastrointestinal contents, due to contractions of the gut and the
thoraco-abdominal muscles. This is somehow different from
regurgitation which is defined as egression of gastric contents to
the mouth effortlessly
Hematemes
is:
Vomiting blood, which may be obviously red or have an
appearance similar to coffee grounds.

7. Heartburn Despite its name, heartburn does not affect the heart, it is a
burning sensation in the chest, behind the breastbone. It
occurs when stomach acid travels back up in the
esophagus
Dysphagia Difficulty swallowing
Odynophagia Painful sensation in the oesophageal region that occurs
in relation to swallowing
Diarrhea Diarrhea is loose, watery stools (bowel movements).
You have diarrhea if you have loose stools three or
more times in one day.
Constipation Constipation means that a person has three or
fewer bowel movements in a week. The stool can be
hard and dry. Sometimes it is painful to pass.

8. Dyspepsia Mild discomfort in the upper belly or
abdomen. You may also feel nauseated, or
even throw up.
Abdominal pain Pain in the abdomen
Hematochezia The passage of fresh blood per anus, usually in
or with stools.
Melena The passage of black, tarry stools
Hematochezia The passage of fresh blood per anus, usually in
or with stools