10 Minute consultation: Irritable bowel syndrome

What issues you should cover

Characteristics - Irritable bowel syndrome consists of abdominal pain and intermittent diarrhoea, constipation, or bloating. Possible contributing factors include stress or anxiety, visceral hypersensitivity, altered bowel motility, neurotransmitter imbalances, and inflammation. No single mechanism explains all cases, and no specific dietary causes are known. Symptoms usually begin before the age of 50, and up to 20% of the population may be affected.

Diagnosis - Differential diagnoses include inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal polyps or cancers, malabsorption (lactose intolerance or coeliac disease), infectious diarrhoea, and thyroid dysfunction. Although irritable bowel syndrome is often …