Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic disorder of the intestines. IBS does not cause inflammation and does not lead to a more serious condition.
The cause is unknown. With IBS, the muscles in the colon do not work normally and may spasm. If you have IBS, your colon may be more sensitive, reacting strongly to food and medication. Food allergies and certain bacteria may add to the symptoms. IBS may also occur after having the stomach flu (called gastroenteritis ).
These factors increase your chance of developing IBS:
Tell your doctor if you have any of these risk factors.
Symptoms usually come and go and range from mild to severe. They include:
These factors may worsen your symptoms:
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam. In many cases, a diagnosis can be made based on this. Since there is no diagnostic test for IBS, doctors have created criteria for making a diagnosis.
Your doctor may order the following tests to rule out other conditions:
Your doctor may also screen you for celiac disease , which is more common in people with IBS.
There is no cure for IBS. Treatment focuses on controlling symptoms.
The following changes to your diet may help control symptoms:
Talk to your doctor about ways to reduce stress , such as:
Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may recommend:
In some cases, your doctor may recommend that you take a combination of medicines.
RESOURCES:
American College of Gastroenterology
http://www.acg.gi.org/
American Gastroenterological Association
http://www.gastro.org/
Irritable Bowel Syndrome Association
http://www.ibsassociation.org/
CANADIAN RESOURCES
Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index_e.html/
Irritable Bowel Syndrome Association
http://www.ibsassociation.ca/
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1/11/2010 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance: Wittmann T, Paradowski L, Ducrotté P, Bueno L, Andro Delestrain MC. Clinical trial: efficacy of alverine citrate/simeticone combination on abdominal pain/discomfort in irritable bowel syndrome: results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2009 Dec 10. [Epub ahead of print]
Last reviewed September 2009 by Daus Mahnke, MD
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