Symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome (also called IBS or irritable bowel syndrome for short) usually occur only during the day, constantly or recurrently, and over a long period of time (but at least twelve weeks). Common symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome are diffuse or crampy abdominal pain and discomfort, which are often relieved by bowel movements. It is also typical for irritable bowel syndrome that the abdominal pain occurs when there is a change in stool frequency or consistency. Pain in the abdomen thus accompanies phases of diarrhea or constipation, for example.
Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome: diarrhea and bloating.
Other possible symptoms, which occur in addition to diarrhea or constipation in the disease irritable bowel syndrome, are:
- Flatulence
- Rumbling bowel sounds
- Feeling of fullness
The stool consistency is usually changed: Often the feces are hard or mucus deposits are found. There are also – in addition to frequent or reduced defecation – disturbances during toilet use, for example, strong pressing is necessary, diarrhea is given or there is a feeling that the stool is not completely emptied.
Irritable bowel syndrome: exclusion of other causes necessary.
Serious diseases must be excluded as the cause of the complaints, especially colon cancer and chronic inflammatory bowel disease, but also gastric ulcers and stomach cancer, celiac disease and liver disease.
Various measures are used for this purpose, in particular the following measures:
- A palpation examination of the rectum
- Gastroscopy and colonoscopy
- Ultrasound examinations
- Stool and blood tests
Tests are also often performed in irritable bowel syndrome to rule out lactose or fructose intolerance or allergy, respectively.