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Around one in five Australians experiences the unpleasant symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) at some time. These include abdominal pain, bloating, mucus in the stools, and either diarrhoea, constipation or a mixture of both. Irritable bowel syndrome is a condition commonly referred to as a functional gastrointestinal disorder. A new description of this condition is that IBS is a disorder of brain gut interaction, highlighting the importance of the brain and its relationship with gut function. More women than men are prone to IBS, and symptoms tend to first occur in early adulthood. There is no one cause for Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Each individual will experience symptoms of IBS due to their own unique factors. These factors include changes of routine, emotional stress, infection, psychological distress, inappropriate toileting dynamics and diet. Other important factors include neurotransmitters, gut microbiota and intestinal motility. Irritable bowel syndrome doesn’t cause lasting damage and doesn’t contribute to the development of serious bowel conditions, such as cancer or colitis. Symptoms of IBSSome of the more common signs of irritable bowel syndrome include:
None of these symptoms are exclusive to IBS. It is uncommon for IBS to produce these symptoms, for the first time, after the age of 40. Main IBS categoriesIrritable bowel syndrome can be subdivided into three major categories:
Causes of IBSThe underlying cause of irritable bowel syndrome is likely to be explained by many different factors, unique to each individual. Certain factors have been found to ‘trigger’ attacks in susceptible individuals. These include:
Diagnosis of IBSIf you suspect you have irritable bowel syndrome, it is important to seek medical advice to make sure your symptoms aren’t caused by any other illness, such as diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease. Coeliac disease (an immune intolerance to gluten, present in wheat and other grains) may produce symptoms commonly seen in IBS. Lactose intolerance may produce bloating, cramps and diarrhoea. Most people can be diagnosed with IBS without the need for invasive testing. Diagnosis methods include:
Treatment for IBSIBS can be successfully managed with treatments which are tailored to the individual. Clinicians will often recommend identifying and avoiding triggers. Treatment options may include:
Specific treatments for IBS are not approved for useA small number of medications have been developed to treat IBS and have been shown to be effective in selected groups in clinical trials. These work on the interaction between serotonin and nerve cells of the colon. They include alosetron, cilansetron and tegaserod. Safety concerns with these three medications has led to their withdrawal from the market, or restricted use only, and none are presently licensed in Australia. Microbiota altering therapies such as faecal microbiota transplantation are considered experimental and preliminary clinical studies have not shown this therapy to be clearly effective. Find an experienced health professionalPeople with IBS can become frustrated and feel their symptoms are not treated seriously. These frustrations, along with sometimes inappropriate therapy, can often make the symptoms worse. Finding a therapist with experience in the successful treatment of IBS is important. Being treated by a multidisciplinary team is optimal. Where to get help
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This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:
This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:
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