Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable Bowel Syndrome General Information

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a gastroentereologic condition that describes a functional bowel disorder. In cases where the patient is affected by this condition, there is a notable alteration of the normal bowel activity – such as discomfort, bloating, diarrhea and constipation. Pain may be present as well. The syndrome can be classified as IBS-D when diarrhea is dominant or IBS-C in cases where the patient experiences mostly constipation. The two conditions may alternate, and in such cases the syndrome is known as IBS-A. It is possible for the syndrome to appear after an infection, case in which it is known as post-infectious syndrome (IBS-PI). Another possible cause of this condition is stress. It is not entirely clear what is the exact cause of this syndrome, but theory suggests that it is caused by interaction disorder between the intestines and the central nervous system, gut flora disorders or immune system affections.

There are several other disorders which may be mistaken for Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Such disorders as celiac disease, mild infections, functional chronic constipation, chronic functional abdominal pain or a number of inflammatory bowel diseases are commonly mistaken for IBS. Misdiagnosis can lead to complications, while the real affection is untreated and may evolve into more serious disorders. It is best that the examining physician performs further tests if he or she has any doubts concerning the actual nature of the condition before placing a diagnosis.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms

In the case of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, the patient may present several symptoms, such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, bloody stool (hematochezia) and weight loss. Urgency for bowel movements, incomplete evacuation (or a sensation that the evacuation did not complete) abdominal distention and bloating have also been experienced in cases of IBS. However, many of these symptoms can be associated with a number of different other affections, and because of this there have been many cases where IBS has been misdiagnosed. It is highly recommended that the patient undergoes any necessary tests in order to ensure that the correct diagnose is applied.

In some cases, IBS can be developed after an infectious infection, and in such cases the patient will experience fever, vomiting, positive stool culture and diarrhea, in what is generally known as the post-infectious Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome may develop a number of associated conditions, such as gastro-esophageal reflux, fibromyalgia, headache, backache, psychological symptoms or genitourinary system related symptoms. There may be a number of other symptoms and associated affections that can be caused by IBS, which are not listed here. It is highly advised that if you begin to experience any of the above symptoms or any other symptoms and you suspect that you are afflicted with this syndrome, you should contact your specialized health care professional.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Treatment

The treatment for the Irritable Bowel Syndrome is largely dependant on the underlining cause of the infection. Each of the causes may require a very large range of therapies, medications and medical procedures, and in each case, your prescribing doctor will provide you with the treatment best suited for your age, medical history and general health condition. If you have any inquiries regarding the procedures or medications that you have been prescribed, it is highly advised that you ask your prescribing doctor for more information.

One of the most common methods prescribed for relieving the symptoms of the Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a diet-based treatment. This would generally consist in a soluble fiber enriched diet, substituting lactate products with rice and soy, and avoiding insoluble fiber-rich fruit and vegetables in favor of soluble fiber ones. The patient should eat frequently and in small amounts. The diet should completely avoid any red meat, milk, oil or fat, as well as fried food. Chocolate, coffee and caffeine, alcohol and carbonated beverages are also to be avoided.

Medication treatment is also often employed in treating patients suffering from the Irritable Bowel Syndrome, most commonly just softeners and laxatives or antidiarrheals (such as Loperamide, Diphenoxylate / Atropine or a Kaolin / Pectin preparation) in the initial stages of the treatment. Antispasmodic drugs such as hyoscyamine (Levsin, Levbid, NuLev) or dicyclomine (Bemote, Bentyl, Di-Spaz) are also a treatment often employed in order to relieve cramps and diarrhea. Therapy with anticholinergics (Dicyclomine or Hyoscyamine, for example) has been proven to have positive results in certain circumstances. Serotonin-affecting drugs can also be employed with some degree of success in relieving the symptoms caused by Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Agonists and antagonists have also been used with a certain rate of success; however severe side effects may occur if incorrectly administered, or if administered in misdiagnosed cases.

Anti-depressants under the form of tricyclic antidepressants have a strong anti-cholinergic reaction, thus they can be used in cases of Irritable Bowel Syndrome where diarrhea is dominant. Under the form of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, anti-depressants are best used in treating IBS-C cases. For the relief of bloating and flatulence, such medicines as Rifaximin have proven their effectiveness, also supporting the theory that intestinal bacteria might be one of the causes of this syndrome. Diarrhea-predominant IBS cases have also been successfully treated with potent opioids such as propoxyphene or codeine, but also with paregoric or even morphine sulfate or deodorized tincture of opium – however therapy with such drugs may cause addiction and physical dependence, so it is not always a treatment of choice, as the examining physician must decide if the benefits outweigh the risks.

There are records of some cases that have been treated with cannabis and derivatives, however these substances are illegal in many countries, and also their benefits have not been fully documented. Clinical tests of such substances are still being performed, however at this time no clear results are available. It is highly advised that you maintain your good physical condition in order to improve your bowel functions, as this may prevent appearance or recurrence of this syndrome. Quitting smoking, quitting coffee and alcohol while avoiding spicy and gas-producing foods may also effectively assist you in maintaining good health and preventing further affections.