IBS

Around one in five Australians experiences the unpleasant symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) at some time. It seems that people with IBS have sensitive bowels that are easily ‘upset’.

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 IBS

Some of the common symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome include:

  • abdominal pain or cramping that is often relieved bypassing wind or feces
  • alternating diarrhea and constipation
  • a sensation that the bowels are not fully emptied after passing a motion
  • abdominal bloating
  • mucus present in the stools

3 Main IBS categories

  1. Constipation-predominant – the person tends to alternate constipation with normal stools. Symptoms of abdominal cramping or aching are commonly triggered by eating.
  2. Diarrhea-predominant – the person tends to experience diarrhea first thing in the morning or after eating. The need to go to the toilet is typically urgent and cannot be delayed. Incontinence may be a problem.
  3. Alternating constipation and diarrhea.

Causes of IBS

The underlying cause of irritable bowel syndrome is still unknown, but certain factors have been found to ‘trigger’ attacks in susceptible individuals. These include:

  • Infection – an episode of gastroenteritis will often result in persistent bowel symptoms, long after the offending bacteria or virus has been eliminated. The cause of this is unknown, but may involve changes to nerve function in the bowel or changes in the normal bacterial population of the bowel. Up to 25 per cent of IBS may be due to this problem.
  • Food intolerance – impaired absorption of lactose (found in dairy and many processed foods) is a very common dietary trigger for IBS. Other common intolerances that trigger IBS are fructose and sorbitol.
  • General diet – low-fiber diets can exacerbate the constipation of constipation-predominant IBS.
  • Emotional stress – strong emotions, such as anxiety or stress, can affect the nerves of the bowel in susceptible people.
  • Medication – certain types (such as antibiotics, antacids and painkillers) can lead to constipation or diarrhea.

Diagnosis of IBS

If 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.

Diagnosis methods include:

  • full medical check-up
  • blood tests, including blood tests for coeliac disease
  • stool tests
  • investigation of the bowel lining by inserting a small tube (sigmoidoscopy)
  • investigation of the bowel under sedation (colonoscopy) or barium enema, if necessary.

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