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Irritated bowel syndrome (IBS)

What is irritated bowel syndrome (IBS)? Irritated bowel syndrome is defined as the complex of functional (i. e., not associated with the organic lesioning of the intestine) disorders lasting for more than 3 months. Depending on the leading clinical symptom, 3 IBS types are distinguished:

  • predominating pain and meteorism
  • predominating constipations
  • predominating diarrhea


  • What symptoms are typical of IBS?
  • abdominal pain (usually subsides after defecation)
  • meteorism (increased gas generation)
  • abdominal "murmur"
  • чthe sensation of continual incompleteness of bowel voiding
  • constant urges for defecation
  • constipations
  • diarrheas


  • What are the causes of irritated bowel syndrome?
    The mechanisms of the development of irritated bowel syndrome involve disorders in the neural and humoral regulation of intestinal motility. The causes of such disorders are manifold. An important role in the development of intestinal motility disorders belongs to mental factors including emotional stress.

    What are the diagnostic criteria for irritated bowel syndrome?
    The symptoms of irritated bowel syndrome are nonspecific and may be observed in a number of organic diseases. So it is not without reason that irritated bowel syndrome patients are often erroneously diagnosed as having chronic spastic colitis, dysbiosis, chronic pancreatitis, or even cancer. However, irritated bowel syndrome may be distinguished from other conditions by a number of specific features:
  • long-term course without progression;
  • variability of complaints (abdominal pain and intestinal disorders are associated with headache, sleep disorders, the sensation of lump in the throat upon swallowing, etc.);
  • changing pattern of complaints;
  • association of worsened condition with mental factors;
  • the absence of pain and intestinal disorders (e.g., diarrhea) in nighttime;
  • the absence of the so-called alarming symptoms (blood in feces, fever, unexplained weight loss, anemia, increased RBC sedimentation, etc.)


  • What makes it possible to diagnose irritated bowel syndrome for sure?
    Irritated bowel syndrome is diagnosed by exclusion of other possibilities. Because the conditions has no strictly specific symptoms, the patient should be carefully examined (this should include clinical and biochemical blood tests, testing feces for cryptic blood, ultrasonic examination of the abdomen, colonoscopy combined with autopsy, if required, and testing feces for infections). Only gastroenterologist can make the exact diagnosis after all tests have been done.

    Where should one address if irritated bowel syndrome is suspected?
    Address LENMEDCENTER! We are at your service to provide you not only with examination but, also, with treatment whether your diagnosis is confirmed or changed. Our experienced doctors will help you to normalize the functions of your intestine and to restore its normal microflora, they will select the appropriate drug treatment, provide psychotherapeutic treatment, and carry out follow-up. We will help you to obtain beneficial results and secure them.

    Клиника питания, голодания и нарушения пищевого поведения на Обводном канале в СПб | Поликлинический центр «ЛЕНМЕДЦЕНТР» профессора Лаптевой Контакты:
    Адрес: Наб. Обводного канала, 93-а, МДЦ «Нептун» Санкт-Петербург
    Телефон:+7 (812) 973-20-48, +7 (812) 243-24-00, +7 (951) 686-92-42