title: The challenge of irritable bowel syndrome.
abstract: Irritable bowel syndrome is a common disorder with symptom complexes that can include diarrhea, constipation, pain and bloating. After other disorders have been excluded, treatment should be directed at the predominant symptoms and gauged to their severity. A careful balance between a thoughtful investigation and the expense and dangers of overtesting must always be considered. Most patients continue to have persistent symptoms several years after the original diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: New England Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Bonis
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Norton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002400:Cathartics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D003109:Colonic Diseases, Functional / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012812:Sigmoidoscopy
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D002400:Cathartics; D010276:Parasympatholytics