Stomach ache

• Can I talk to a doctor on Gotodoctor.ca about my stomach ache?

Yes, Gotodoctor.ca provides virtual care services for stomach ache. A doctor will take a comprehensive in-depth history and may provide you with prescriptions. Depending on the severity of symptoms further recommendations will be provided. If a patient is suffering from a severe stomach ache, the doctor will direct him/her to clinic treatment.

• What is stomach ache?

Stomach ache is a pain that arises from the abdominal area and it can result from any condition that affects the gastrointestinal tract. Etiology can vary from benign causes to more serious conditions^{[1, 2]}. Inflammation, benign and metastatic tumors, obstruction and parasitic infestations are some of the underlying reasons behind stomach ache. Diarrhea and constipation can also result in stomach ache^[3,4]

• What are the symptoms of stomach ache?

Stomach ache can present simultaneously with fever if there is an underlying inflammation. A doctor will be able to diagnose stomach ache by identifying characteristic symptoms. Symptoms associated with stomach ache are nausea, vomiting, hematemesis (vomiting of blood), hematochezia (passage of fresh blood with stools), diarrhea and constipation. Due to nausea and vomiting, food intake is reduced and there is an observable weight loss. Obstructive symptoms can present if the stomach ache results from a benign or malignant tumor in the gastrointestinal tract^{[5, 6]}.

• How is stomach ache treated?

A doctor decides on treatment after taking a comprehensive history of the patient. Treatment of stomach ache depends on the underlying cause and investigations should be done to find out the root cause. First of all, life threatening conditions are excluded by the doctor. Pain relief medications may be prescribed to make the patient free of pain. Prescriptions for laxative medications may be provided the patient suffers from constipation and prescriptions for antimotility drugs may be provided for diarrhea^{[7, 8]}.

• How can an online doctor on Gotodoctor.ca treat stomach ache ?

Online doctors on Gotodoctor.ca treat stomach ache through virtual care services. An appointment can be easily made with an online doctor. Stomach ache can be treated via virtual care methods^{[5, 7-14]}. An online doctor will take a comprehensive history of your signs and symptoms and may provide you with prescriptions. Prescriptions can be obtained by online doctors. Virtual care services provided by Gotodoctor.ca assure comfort, convenience and a higher level of care for the patient.

References

1. Cervellin, G., et al., Epidemiology and outcomes of acute stomach ache in a large urban Emergency Department: retrospective analysis of 5,340 cases. Annals of translational medicine, 2016. 4(19): p. 362-362.
2. Chanana, L., et al., Clinical profile of non-traumatic acute stomach ache presenting to an adult emergency department. Journal of family medicine and primary care, 2015. 4(3): p. 422-425.
3. Macaluso, C.R. and R.M. McNamara, Evaluation and management of acute stomach ache in the emergency department. International journal of general medicine, 2012. 5: p. 789-797.
4. Vaghef-Davari, F., et al., Approach to Acute Abdominal Pain: Practical Algorithms. Advanced journal of emergency medicine, 2019. 4(2): p. e29-e29.
5. Eaton, L.H., et al., Development and implementation of a telehealth-enhanced intervention for pain and symptom management. Contemporary clinical trials, 2014. 38(2): p. 213-220.
6. Staub, G.M., J. von Overbeck, and E. Blozik, Teleconsultation in children with stomach ache: a comparison of physician triage recommendations and an established paediatric telephone triage protocol. BMC medical informatics and decision making, 2013. 13: p. 110-110.
7. Almathami, H.K.Y., K.T. Win, and E. Vlahu-Gjorgievska, Barriers and Facilitators That Influence Telemedicine-Based, Real-Time, Online Consultation at Patients’ Homes: Systematic Literature Review. J Med Internet Res, 2020. 22(2): p. e16407.
8. Deldar, K., K. Bahaadinbeigy, and S.M. Tara, Teleconsultation and Clinical Decision Making: a Systematic Review. Acta informatica medica : AIM : journal of the Society for Medical Informatics of Bosnia & Herzegovina : casopis Drustva za medicinsku informatiku BiH, 2016. 24(4): p. 286-292.
9. Gunasekeran, D.V., et al., Evaluating Safety and Efficacy of Follow-up for Patients With Abdominal Pain Using Video Consultation (SAVED Study): Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of medical Internet research, 2020. 22(6): p. e17417-e17417.
10. Myers, D.R., et al., Towards remote assessment and screening of acute stomach ache using only a smartphone with native accelerometers. Scientific Reports, 2017. 7(1): p. 12750.
11. Staub, G., J. Overbeck, and E. Blozik, Teleconsultation in children with stomach ache: A comparison of physician triage recommendations and an established paediatric telephone triage protocol. BMC medical informatics and decision making, 2013. 13: p. 110.
12. Bokolo Anthony, J., Use of Telemedicine and Virtual Care for Remote Treatment in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Medical Systems, 2020. 44(7): p. 132.
13. Wang, X., et al., Impact of Telemedicine on Healthcare Service System Considering Patients’ Choice. Discrete Dynamics in Nature and Society, 2019. 2019: p. 7642176.
14. Williams, O.E., et al., The use of telemedicine to enhance secondary care: some lessons from the front line. Future healthcare journal, 2017. 4(2): p. 109-114.