title: [Diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome].
abstract: The diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a clinical diagnosis, based on the Rome III criteria. The identification of alarm features (red flags), associated with an organic digestive pathology is a key point during the initial screening. Age over 50 years, blood in feces, and diarrhea seem to be the three most specific red flags. Biological and morphological examinations must be performed cautiously; their profitability is low in patients with Rome criteria. In the majority of clinical situations encountered in daily clinical practice, a positive diagnosis of IBS can be made.
authors.affiliation: AP-HP, Hôpital Louis Mourier, service d'Hépato-Gastroentérologie, 178 rue des Renouillers, 92700 Colombes, France. benoit.coffin@lmr.aphp.fr
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Coffin
mesh_terms: D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life