Irritable Bowel Syndrome Flashcards
1
Q
What is Irritable Bowel System (IBS)?
A
- Prevalent GI illness, collection of recurrent symptoms related to digestive system
2
Q
Aetiology
A
- Altered gut motility: related to abnormal contractions of colon = diarrhoea and constipation
- Visceral hypersensitivity: increased sensitivity to pain and discomfort to digestive tract
- Gut brain interaction: emotional factor, stress, anxiety influence IBS through gut-brain axis
- Microbiome imbalance
3
Q
Pathophysiology
A
- Abnormal gut motility, hypersensitivity
- Change in gut microbiota: microbiota abnormalities.
- Psychological factors, genetic and epigenetic factors
4
Q
Risk Factors
A
- Gender: women
- Age: common in younger people, but can develop later in life
- Family history, psychological factors, gastrointestinal factors, abnormal gut motility
- Food intolerance, stress/trauma, hormonal factors
5
Q
Signs/symptoms
A
- Abdominal pain and cramping, bowel habit changes
- Altered stool consistency, bloating and excessive gas
- Mucus in stools: irritation and inflammation in intestinal lining
- Incomplete evacuation feeling: constant urge to use toilet
- Fatigue and sleep disturbances, anxiety and depression
6
Q
Diagnosis
A
- Medical history/physical examination
- Stool tests: rule out infection and other conditions that have similar symptoms.
- Blood tests: identify underlying conditions (celiac disease, thyroid disease, inflammatory markers, ESR
- Colonoscopy/flexible sigmoidoscopy
- Lactose intolerance test
7
Q
Management
A
- Education and information, diet and lifestyle advice
- Fibre in diet
- Antispasmodic medication: low dose of those meds (short term treatment) those with abdominal pain/cramps linked to IBS, can relax muscles in gut and reduce pain.
- Psychological therapies: cognitive behavioural therapy and hypnotherapy
- Meds: loperamide: diarrhoea predomination IBS, laxatives (macrogol/stimulants): constipation-predominant IBS
- Specialist advice referral
