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Irritable bowel syndrome

Low urgency
Common-

Chronic disease of the digestive tract with chronic abdominal pain and bowel function disorders.

There is no demonstrable cause.

It manifests intermittently for months with abdominal pain, diarrhea, abdominal distension with gas and gastric fullness.

Diagnosis is by exclusion of other diseases, as all diagnostic tests are normal.

Treatment is based on symptom control and psychotherapy.

Bibliographic references
  1. Arnold Wald. Pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome. UpToDate. Aug 11, 2016.
  2. Drossman DA, Camilleri M, Mayer EA, Whitehead WE. AGA technical review on irritable bowel syndrome. Gastroenterology 2002; 123:2108.
  3. Houghton LA, Lea R, Agrawal A, et al. Relationship of abdominal bloating to distention in irritable bowel syndrome and effect of bowel habit. Gastroenterology 2006; 131:1003.
  4. E. Ros rahola. Trastornos de la motilidad intestinal. Síndrome del intestino irritable. Farreras Rozman. Medicina Interna. Volumen I. Duodécima edición. 130:131.
  5. Chung Owyang. Síndrome de colon irritable. Harrison. Principios de Medicina Interna. Volumen 2. 19ª Edición. 1965:1970.
Author
Dr. Oscar Garcia-Esquirol
Copyright
© TeckelMedical 2026

Symptoms

    Increased bowel movements

    Abdominal pain improvement after passing stools and/or wind

    Abdominal flatulence

    Diarrhea

    Lower abdominal pain

Symptoms to watch out for

Fever (temperature higher than 100.4 ºF)
Abdominal pain that does not subside with usual treatment
Persistence of symptoms during the first month of treatment.

Self-care

It is recommended to follow a balanced diet, consume water-soluble fiber (fruits and vegetables), avoid gas-producing foods (beans, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli), carbonated beverages with preservatives, synthetic sweeteners and refined sugar.
Get regular physical activity at least 3 times a week that is appropriate for your age and physical condition.
If you have diarrhea, talk to your doctor about prescribing antidiarrheal medicine.
Consult your primary care physician regarding the use of laxatives.
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