Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a common disorder affecting the large intestine. It is a chronic condition which needs a long time management to be given.

Causes:

  1. Some people with an intolerance or allergic to certain food may develop the severe type of symptoms, though the relation of food to irritable bowel syndrome is clearly not known.
  2. Most of the people have an aggravation of their symptoms with an increase in their stress levels. Stress might increase the symptoms but it doesn’t cause them.
  3. Hormonal changes before or during periods of women also might be a reason for IBS.
  4. Some other infections in the body, some bacteria in the intestines, recurrent diarrhoea can also trigger IBS.

Risk Factors:

Sex: It affects females more when compared with males

Family: If any of your family member like your parents, brother or sister is suffering from IBS then you’re more prone to be affected

Age: It usually affects the people below 35 years of age. Amongst the people affected with IBS half of them are below 35 years.

Symptoms:

  • Pain or cramps in the abdomen
  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Mucous in the stool
  • Bloating of the abdomen making you uncomfortable
  • Flatulence

When To See A GI ?

  • If you have a persistent change in your bowel habits you need to see a doctor
  • Weight loss
  • Abdominal pain which occurs or increases at night
  • Rectal bleeding

Treatment/ Procedures:

Colonoscopy with Ileoscopy: It allows direct visualization and biopsy of the mucosa of rectum, colon and terminal ileum.

Flexible Sigmoidoscopy: It helps the doctor to define the disease activity and evaluate for superimposed colitides.

Enteroscopy: This procedure has a limited role in the evaluation of patients with suspected or known IBD.

Tests: 

Lactose Intolerance Test: Lactose is an enzyme used to digest sugar in the milk products. If your body doesn’t produce this enzyme then you may land up in same sort of symptoms as that of IBD.

Breath Test: Our doctor performs a breath test to diagnose bacterial overgrowth in which bacteria grow from large intestine to small intestine giving the symptoms of IBD.

Blood Test: Celiac disease or any type of allergy to gluten may produce same sort of symptoms like that of IBS.