Clinical, epidemiological and prophylactic aspects of dyspepsia.

Dyspepsia or indigestion is a term that refers to a multitude of symptoms and disorders of the digestive system which cause suffering in many patients. Dyspepsia means pain or discomfort that is centrally localized in the upper abdomen. The following categories of symptoms may also be present: pain localized in the right or left hypochondrium, dysphagia, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, acute abdomen, symptoms of reflux, transit disorders. On the other hand, the term "discomfort" was defined in order to designate a condition characterized by or associated with early satiety, upper abdominal bloating, nausea, epigastric fullness. As dyspeptic syndrome is often caused by excessive food intake or by consumption of certain nutrients, the disease may have a severe prognosis. Hearty meals, the nature of foods, the preparation of meals, possible special conditions of eating may often contribute to dyspepsia.