Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS

Today more and more people are developing gastrointestinal problems; this is associated with rapid life changes they experience on an ongoing basis. A Gastroenterologist speaks about the most common gastrointestinal disorder experienced by patients, Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Dr Mpho,
Gastroenterologist and Specialist Physician, MBCHB (Natal) & FCP (SA)

Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS is a chronic continuous or remittent gastrointestinal illness.  It is characterised by frequent unexplained group of symptoms of abdominal pain, bloating (abdomen full of gas) and bowel disturbance of either diarrhea or constipation or erratic bowel habit that has features of both.

These are common features that everyone experiences from time to time, but in Irritable Bowel Syndrome they are so frequent that they negatively affect the quality of life of sufferers.

Symptoms may range from mild to severe and may worsen in sufferers that experience emotional stress or mood disorders such as anxiety or depression.  However, most sufferers experience mild symptoms and the nature of symptoms vary from person to person. 

IBS can affect significantly a person's ability to partake in normal day to day activities.  They have to take time off work or curtail their social life; avoid sexual intercourse, avoid travel, and even stay confined to their houses for fear of embarrassment.

Diagnostic criteria for IBS include at least 12 weeks or more which need not be consecutive in the preceding 12 months of abdominal pain or discomfort that has two of the following,

- Relief by defecation
- Onset associated with change in the stool frequency
- Onset associated with change in the form of stool.

It is important to note that change in frequency means more than three stools a day or less than three stools a week.  Stools may be hard or loose and watery.  This is also associated with feeling of incomplete evacuation and bloating.

Other systems are involved and patients may also have symptoms of tiredness, breathlessness, indigestion, heartburn, back pain, headache, dizziness, muscle pain, palpitations, sleeplessness, anxiety and, panic attacks.  Symptoms can be triggered or aggravated by certain foods, stress or by anxiety.  A great loss of a loved one, for example, may trigger or be a cause for someone to develop IBS.

IBS is not curable and maybe a lifelong condition and treatment is symptomatic.  Although there is no cure, there are treatment options that may relieve the symptoms.  Treatment can be done with medication, dietary change and psychological counselling particularly for patients with emotional stress and anxiety.

While there are no specific known causes for its occurrence, it affects individuals of all ages.  About fifty percent of gastrointestinal problems are associated with IBS.  Literature has shown that it is widespread in developed than developing countries.  In Africa it is seen more in rural areas than cities.  It is four times more common in women than in men.  Women may develop IBS following a hysterectomy.

Sufferers of IBS can sometimes be misdiagnosed.  A diagnosis may be missed as its symptoms may be mistaken for symptoms of other illnesses such as celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease.  It can also happen in patients with a single gastrointestinal symptom that is combined with other non-gastro symptoms such as headaches, sleeplessness and dizziness.  Worst still are sufferers who self-misdiagnose themselves to suffer from ulcerative colitis without seeing a doctor.

It is important to note that there are other diseases and conditions that exclude IBS, such as rectal bleeding, steatorrhoea (fatty stools), dehydration, fever and an onset in old age.

The diagnosis for IBS should be made after consultation with a doctor.  Sufferers are advised to consult their doctor if they experience symptoms of IBS.

Suffers can also contact us on info@trendzmedicaltravel.co.za for a consult.