Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Abstract

Irritable bowel syndrome is one of a group of disorders that includes chest pain of unexplained origin, nonulcer dyspepsia, and biliary dyskinesia. These chronic disorders are frequently considered functional, because no specific structural or biochemical cause has been found¹. In all likelihood, the pathogenesis involves disordered motility or altered visceral sensation, although no consistent abnormality has been identified. In addition, psychosocial factors affect the clinical expression of these disorders.Definition and Clinical PresentationPatients with irritable bowel syndrome have a broad range of symptoms well known to most clinicians. The symptoms may be continuous or intermittent but should be . . .