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Understanding Dyspepsia: Front Shop Module 3, 2016
Understanding Dyspepsia is the third module for front shop participants.
Dyspepsia is a common complaint presenting in the pharmacy. Functional dyspepsia is the medical term for a condition that causes pain or discomfort that is felt in the upper abdomen, near the ribs. It is sometimes also called ‘indigestion’, but this term is old and also misleading because the condition does not involve a problem with the digestion of food.
There are many possible causes of dyspepsia. About 25 to 30% of people with symptoms of dyspepsia have another underlying medical problem responsible for the symptoms, such as reflux disease or an ulcer. Most people, however, do not have an underlying medical problem causing symptoms of dyspepsia.
Functional dyspepsia often comes back intermittently over time, with about 50% of people consulting a health care provider for their symptoms at some time in their life. Many people with dyspepsia can be managed in the community pharmacy setting with medicines available over-the-counter. However, because dyspepsia can occasionally be caused by abnormalities in the gastrointestinal tract that need referral to the pharmacist or doctor, it is important for the front shop member of staff to be able to recognise certain symptoms or warning signs and appropriately refer such individuals for further evaluation.
The symptoms and general approach to the management of dyspepsia will be covered in this module.
