Bloating: Differential Diagnosis by Symptom Pattern

• •Pain location and relation to meals
• •Stool pattern (watery, bloody, greasy) and vomiting profile
• •Associated systemic signs such as fever or jaundice

• •Cycle, pregnancy status, and reproductive history
• •Pelvic pain pattern and bleeding profile
• •Urogenital symptoms with targeted examination

• •Character of pain and exertional trigger
• •Hemodynamic instability, pulse pattern, and blood pressure
• •ECG and cardiac biomarkers trend

• •Prioritize red flags and severe progression first
• •Use focused history + exam to define the leading organ system

• •Constitutional symptoms (weight loss, night sweats, fatigue)
• •Persistent or progressive pattern without clear acute trigger
• •Abnormal blood counts and imaging findings

Immediate testing when red flags are present

• •Vital signs and focused triage examination
• •Pulse oximetry and ECG
• •Basic blood panel (CBC, CRP, electrolytes, glucose)
• •Immediate imaging based on dominant red flags

Group-directed workup

• •CBC / CRP
• •Liver panel and lipase
• •Stool tests
• •Abdominal ultrasound
• •Pregnancy test when relevant
• •Pelvic / scrotal ultrasound
• •Urinalysis and STI tests
• •Hormonal panel when indicated