Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Home » Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) » Diagnosis

Diagnosis

Irritable bowel syndrome is difficult to diagnose. In most cases, test results do not show anything out of the ordinary. The intestines (bowels) often look normal, but the patient still has symptoms. Health care providers usually diagnose IBS through a process of elimination, by ruling out other diseases that cause similar symptoms (e.g., diverticulitis).

The first step in diagnosing IBS is a thorough analysis of the patient's medical history. Physicians evaluate the symptoms; the length, severity, and frequency of the symptoms; and any triggers.

For a diagnosis of IBS, symptoms must be present for 12 weeks, but those weeks need not be consecutive. At least two of the following criteria must be present:

• Bloating and/or abdominal cramping
• Bowel movements that occur more or less frequently and/or a change in the appearance of the stool
• Mucus in the stool
• Straining, the urgent need to have a bowel movement, or the feeling that the bowel hasn’t emptied

Diagnostic tests may be performed to rule out other conditions that might be causing symptoms (e.g., colon cancer, diverticulitis, inflammation of the intestines).

A colonoscopy allows the physician to examine the entire colon (large intestine) and check for abnormal features using a flexible tube with a tiny camera attached. A flexible sigmoidoscopy is a similar procedure that focuses on the lower part of the colon (called the sigmoid colon).

Stool sample tests can be used to detect infection and a hemmocult test can detect hidden blood in the stool. Blood tests can indicate celiac disease, which complicates the digestion of gluten, a wheat protein.

Imaging tests (e.g., x-rays, computed tomography [CT scan]) can be used to examine the abdomen and pelvis and detect tumors or other conditions (e.g., diverticular disease).

Lactose intolerance tests can be used to evaluate the patient's reaction to dairy products. Physicians may suggest avoiding dairy products for a few weeks to see if symptoms improve. In some cases, a psychological evaluation is performed to determine if stress is aggravating the condition.

© 1998-2009 Healthcommunities.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Resources

	Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Your GI Condition The more knowledge you have, the easier it is to make decisions about your gi condition. Print this free handout to take with you on your next office visit.	Advertising Disclaimer
	Join Our Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Forum Do you have a question, want to share medical advice, or just need to discuss your situation with someone else having a similar experience? The healthchannels forum is a resource for everyone to share and discuss their health and medical needs with others.
	Living with...Share your story Do you have a personal health story that you would like to share with others? As a source of free patient education, our goal is to provide our users with trustworthy information and support from others. That's why we've started our "Living with..." sections.
	Our "Living With..." support pages are a place to share experiences about living with a certain condition, disease, disorder, or illness and for loved ones of those dealing with health-related issues. Many people, especially when newly diagnosed, find comfort in knowing that others are having a similar experience. Help others by sharing your story. View stories already submitted.
To quickly access health information from your website's browser, download Healthcommunities.com's healthchannels toolbar. Advertising Disclaimer