Expert answer:
THE irritable bowel syndrome is alteration of digestive tract motility characterized clinically by intestinal habit abnormalities (constipation and / or diarrhea) and abdominal pain, in the absence of demonstrable organic pathology.
O diagnosis is based on completing the Criteria of Rome III, which are quoted below:
- Recurrent abdominal pain or discomfort for more than three days in the month, in the last three months, with two of three characteristics:
- relief from defecation;
- associated with a change in the frequency of bowel movements (more than three times a day or less than three times a week);
- associated with changes in the shape (appearance) of faeces (hardened, fragmented faeces, "goblets" or "goats" and pasty and / or liquid faeces).
Other symptoms may be present to assist in the diagnosis, such as:
- excessive strain during defecation;
- urgency to defecate;
- feeling of incomplete evacuation;
- elimination of mucus during evacuation;
- feeling full or distended;
- history of previous symptoms without medical explanation;
- aggravation after meals;
- symptoms lasting more than six months;
- worsens with stress;
- accompanied by anxiety and / or depression.
Some symptoms and conditions should be "alert" for more accurate discard other diagnoses. Are they:
- Appearance of symptoms after 50 years of age;
- Symptoms of recent onset
- Unintentional weight loss
- Night symptoms
- Family history of colon cancer, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease
- Anemia
- Rectal bleeding
- Recent use of antibiotics
- Abdominal / rectal tumors
- Elevation of inflammatory markers
- Fever
The diagnosis and treatment should be made by the gastroenterologist.
