Diagnosis of Irritable bowel syndrome

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The diagnosis of IBS is made after full investigation has failed to reveal any underlying cause and the symptoms are strongly suggestive of irritable bowel syndrome.

Full medical investigation, including a rectal examination, a barium meal X-ray, and sometimes a gynaecological examination, shows no other abnormalities.

Sometimes the colon is seen to be in a state of unusual activity, contracting and relaxing in an abnormally rapid manner.

Guidelines for the diagnosis have been proposed. The affected person should, for at least 12 weeks in the last 12 months, have suffered abdominal discomfort or pain for which no other cause is found. The 12 weeks need not be continuous but may be a total. The person should also show at least two of the following three features:

Pain is relieved by defecation (opening the bowels)
Pain is associated with a change in the frequency of bowel movement, either an increase or a decrease
There is a change in the form of the stool - it is watery, loose or pellet-like.