Diagnosis Figure 1. Management of Chronic Constipation Constipation
History/physical examination
weight loss, blood in stool, > 50 years Alarm symptoms NO YES
Abdominal pain +++ Bloating +++
IBS-C
treat appropriately, lifestyle changes
Investigate and No improvement
Consider colonoscopy/barium enema, colorectal physiological tests
NO colonoscopy Consider YES appropriately
Investigate and treat
CC
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