Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is very common cause of abdominal discomfort.
Symptoms are
- Abdominal pain eased after defecation
- Looser stool at onset of pain
- More frequent stool at onset of pain
- Abdominal distension
- Feeling of incomplete emptying
- Mucus per rectum
Alarming features
- Presence of these features are uncommon in IBS and suggest alternate pathology
- Blood in stool
- Family history of Inflammatory bowel disease/colon cancer
- Fever
- Onset after the age of 50
- Weight loss
- Chronic diarrhea
- Progressive dysphagia
Diagnosis
- Presence of symptoms of IBS and absence of alarming symptoms are suggestive of diagnosis of IBS
Treatment
- Antispasmodics
- Laxatives
- Antidiarrhoeal
- Antidepressants and anxiolytics
- Antibiotics
- Probiotics