The Irritable bowel syndrome reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), also known as spastic colon, is a fairly common functional abdominal condition characterized by intestinal cramps with frequent constipation (IBS-C), cramping with frequent diarrhea (IBS-D), or with both (IBS-CD). It is often accompanied by intestinal gas and pain and occurs most frequently in women. There are no identifiable abnormalities on medical tests. Usually the diagnosis of IBS is made after everything else has been ruled out by esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), colonoscopy, ultrasound, and other tests. Some physicians do not believe IBS is a genuine identifiable syndrome. One doctor stated, "the intestinal nervous system is not well understood. IBS is a trash can we use for everything we don't understand." There is now a medication, Zelnorm, approved by the U.S Food and Drug Administration for women with IBS with constipation, but unfortunately it has not been shown to work in men.

External links

• American College of Gastroenterologists IBS Resource Center
• IBS Self Help and Support Group
• Health A to Z Irritable Bowel Syndrome article
• Health A to Z Digestive Disorders - IBS article
• Zelnorm Official Site
• Donnatal Extentabs -- irritable bowel syndrome treatment

See also: Chronic Functional Abdominal Pain, Gastroenterology

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