Irritable Bowel Syndrome

How common is it?

Up to a third of the adult and 5% of children population experience symptoms of IBS. It is estimated that nearly one in four adult patients who suffer from IBS is due to underlying undiagnosed fructose intolerance.

What are the signs and symptoms?

Patients with IBS tend to have abdominal discomfort/cramps abdominal pain, abdominal bloating, excessive flatulence, altered bowel habits (diarrhoea/constipation). The stools can be mucousy and often they have incomplete defaecation sensation. The abdominal discomfort is sometimes relieved after defaecation. IBS sufferers sometimes can also experience tiredness and nausea.

IBS is sometimes triggered after an episode of gastroenteritis either by virus or bacteria, which is called post-infectious IBS.

Individuals usually experience the symptoms for more than four weeks. It does not cause rectal bleeding or significant bowel inflammation.

How is it diagnosed?

In children, an IBS diagnosis should only be made when other medical conditions have been ruled out such as constipation, food intolerances/allergies, coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease and pancreatitis.

What is the treatment?

IBS sufferers may benefit from an exclusion diet which is called a low-FODMAP diet. FODMAP sugars consist of fructans, oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols.