Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a topic covered in the 5-Minute Emergency Consult.
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Basics
Description
Description
- Syndrome of abdominal pain associated with altered bowel habits and no other pathology explaining symptoms
- Prevalence estimated to be 10–20%
Etiology
Etiology
- Uncertain pathophysiology, but many possibilities
- Altered GI motility:
- Increased gut sensitivity (visceral hyperalgesia):
- Exaggerated response to normal GI physiology
- Increased gut sensitivity (visceral hyperalgesia):
- Mucosal inflammation:
- Postinfectious:
- Prevalence of IBS after Giardia lamblia infection above 40%
- Postinfectious:
- Mucosal lymphocyte infiltration
- Altered microflora in small bowel or feces
- Food sensitivity is a possibility but not proven
- Psychosocial dysfunction:
- More anxiety, somatoform disorders, and history of abuse in patients who seek care
- No evidence of increased psychiatric illness in those who do not seek care
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Basics
Description
Description
- Syndrome of abdominal pain associated with altered bowel habits and no other pathology explaining symptoms
- Prevalence estimated to be 10–20%
Etiology
Etiology
- Uncertain pathophysiology, but many possibilities
- Altered GI motility:
- Increased gut sensitivity (visceral hyperalgesia):
- Exaggerated response to normal GI physiology
- Increased gut sensitivity (visceral hyperalgesia):
- Mucosal inflammation:
- Postinfectious:
- Prevalence of IBS after Giardia lamblia infection above 40%
- Postinfectious:
- Mucosal lymphocyte infiltration
- Altered microflora in small bowel or feces
- Food sensitivity is a possibility but not proven
- Psychosocial dysfunction:
- More anxiety, somatoform disorders, and history of abuse in patients who seek care
- No evidence of increased psychiatric illness in those who do not seek care
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