Irritable bowel syndrome is a group of common chronic intestinal dysfunctional disorders that manifest clinically as abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel habits and traits. In fact, only three steps are needed to diagnose irritable bowel syndrome.
Step one.
1. Abdominal pain.
The most typical symptom of IBS ranges from below the chest to above the buttocks. It mostly occurs around the umbilicus and lower abdomen, and is mostly paroxysmal, but can also manifest as spasmodic or colicky pain. The abdominal pain can often be significantly relieved after defecation. The occurrence of abdominal pain is related to defecation habits
2, abdominal distension .
3.Changes in defecation habits .
(1) IBS-C: IBS accompanied by constipation.
(2) IBS-D: IBS with diarrhea.
(3) IBS-M: Mixed type of IBS.
The three subtypes of irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, diarrhea, and mixed, will no longer be considered as distinct disorders. Instead, these symptoms will exist within a spectrum of symptom presentation linked by pathophysiologic features.
Step two.
Complete ancillary tests
1. Routine blood count: blood count and classification to exclude anemia and other infectious and malignant diseases.
2, stool routine and culture: observe the presence of intestinal bacterial infection, parasites, and blood in stool symptoms.
3.Sigmoid colon and colonoscopy : Endoscopy is usually done when weight loss and blood in stool.
4.Psychological test : To detect anxiety, depression or other psychological disorders of the patient through questionnaires to assess the mental health status;”
Step 3.
Definitive diagnosis.
1. disease duration of more than 6 months, continuous or recurrent abdominal pain since the last 3 months, with abdominal pain occurring at least one day a week.
(1) Symptom occurrence associated with defecation.
(2) Symptom occurrence with change in defecation habit.
(3) Symptom occurrence with change in stool pattern.
(2) Lack of morphological changes and biochemical abnormalities that could explain the symptoms.
The following symptoms are not necessary for the diagnosis, but are common, and the more these symptoms are, the more they support the diagnosis of IBS.
(1) Abnormal bowel frequency (>3 bowel movements per day or <3 per week).
(2) Abnormal stool characteristics (lumpy/hard stool or watery stool).
(3) Abnormality in the process of bowel movement (effort, urgency, incomplete bowel movement).
(4) Gastrointestinal distention or abdominal distension.
(5) Mucus stool.
Overall, the clinical symptoms of IBS lack specificity, and the pathophysiological factors associated with IBS are multifaceted, so there is no single pathophysiological mechanism to explain the complex symptoms.
The treatment and prevention of IBS should be individualized according to the severity of symptoms, the frequency of attacks and the type of symptoms, and a comprehensive approach should be taken, including psychosocial interventions, dietary therapy and pharmacological treatment.