BMJ  2008;336:556-558 (8 March), doi:10.1136/bmj.39484.712616.AD

Practice

Guidelines

Diagnosis and management of irritable bowel syndrome in adults in primary care: summary of NICE guidance

¹ Drayton & St Faith’s Medical Practice, Norwich NR8 6EE, ² Royal College of Nursing, Oxford

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic, relapsing, and often lifelong condition of unknown aetiology,¹ often associated with non-colonic symptoms. In clinical practice IBS is often diagnosed by the exclusion of more serious illnesses by unnecessary investigations and inappropriate referral. This article summarises the most recent guidance on IBS from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE); the guidelines cover the diagnosis and management of the syndrome, reflecting the complete patient journey from presentation to positive diagnosis and management.²

NICE recommendations are based on systematic reviews of best available evidence. When minimal evidence is available, recommendations are based on the guideline development group’s opinion of what constitutes good practice. Evidence levels for the recommendations are given in italic in square brackets.

• Consider the diagnosis of IBS if abdominal pain or discomfort, bloating, or a change in bowel habit are reported by the patient for at least six months. . . . [Full text of this article]

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