Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder characterized by abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel habits such as diarrhea, constipation, or both.

IBS is defined by Rome criteria, reflecting 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐮𝐭-𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐱𝐢𝐬. Its pathophysiology involves 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐬, influenced by factors like stress, anxiety, and post-infectious etiology. Prevalence varies globally, with around 17.6% self-diagnosing but only 5.5% meeting Rome IV criteria. The diagnostic process involves 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 based on IBS subtypes. The Belgian consensus recommends comprehensive biological assessments, ruling out metabolic or endocrine disorders.

Treatment involves 𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐰-𝐅𝐎𝐃𝐌𝐀𝐏 𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐬, which have shown efficacy. Empathetic 𝐧𝐨𝐧-𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 are crucial, alongside medications targeting predominant symptoms. 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 are first-line medications, with linaclotide approved for constipation and eluxadoline for diarrhea in Europe. However, evidence for some treatments is lacking or conflicting.

While IBS is a chronic condition that can be challenging to manage, with 𝐚 𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬, many individuals can effectively 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐬𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐬 and lead fulfilling lives.