How can I differentiate between functional abdominal pain and pain due to organic causes in a primary care setting?

Differentiating functional abdominal pain from pain caused by organic conditions in primary care relies on a thorough clinical assessment focusing on symptom characteristics, red flag features, and targeted investigations.

Start by taking a detailed history emphasizing the duration, pattern, and quality of abdominal pain. Functional pain, such as in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), typically presents as recurrent abdominal pain or discomfort associated with changes in bowel habits lasting at least 6 months, often with variable pain location and relief after defecation. In contrast, organic pain often has a fixed site and may be more severe or persistent ³[(Scholl and Allen, 2007)].

Look carefully for red flag symptoms that suggest organic pathology and warrant further investigation or referral. These include unexplained weight loss, rectal bleeding, persistent blood in stool, iron deficiency anaemia, an abdominal or rectal mass, severe or nocturnal pain, fever, and systemic signs such as tachycardia or dehydration ¹,². The presence of these features should prompt urgent referral or diagnostic testing to exclude malignancy, inflammatory bowel disease, or other serious conditions ²[(Sabo et al., 2021)].

Physical examination is essential to detect abdominal distension, masses, organomegaly, or tenderness, which are more suggestive of organic disease ¹,². A digital rectal examination may also reveal masses or bleeding.

Consider the patient’s age and risk factors: new onset IBS-like symptoms in patients over 50 years, or those with a family history of gastrointestinal cancers or inflammatory bowel disease, require more cautious evaluation and possible cancer pathway referral ²,³.

Basic investigations in primary care can help differentiate causes. For example, a quantitative faecal immunochemical test (FIT) is recommended for patients with unexplained abdominal pain and weight loss or rectal bleeding to screen for colorectal cancer ¹,². Blood tests including full blood count, inflammatory markers, and iron studies can identify anaemia or inflammation suggestive of organic disease ¹. Testing for Helicobacter pylori infection is appropriate if dyspepsia is present ⁵.

Functional abdominal pain often coexists with psychological factors such as anxiety or depression, which may exacerbate symptoms. Assessing and managing these can improve outcomes ⁵[(Scholl and Allen, 2007)].

In summary, differentiating functional from organic abdominal pain in primary care involves identifying characteristic symptom patterns of functional disorders, excluding red flag features through history and examination, and using targeted investigations to rule out organic pathology. When red flags or atypical features are present, urgent referral or further testing is indicated ¹,²,³[(Aziz and Simrén, 2021)].