title: Prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome: a community survey in an African population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has been reported to be common in the West. Community surveys are lacking in the African setting. We determined the prevalence of IBS in a rural community setting in Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaires were administered to consenting individuals. Subjects satisfying the Rome II criteria for IBS were invited for physical examination at a health center to identify the presence of "alarm factors."
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred forty (31.6%) of the 443 evaluated individuals fulfilled the Rome II criteria for IBS, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.37:1 (P= .11). The prevalence of IBS was highest (39.3%) in the third decade, followed by 25% in the fourth decade (P= .009). Ninety-six (67%) IBS individuals had the alternating pattern of diarrhea and constipation, whereas 28 (20%) and 19 (13%) had constipation and diarrhea subtypes, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IBS as diagnosed by the Rome II criteria has a high prevalence in the African rural population, as obtained elsewhere.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. edinony@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Edith N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Okeke
authors.forename: Nimzing G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Ladep
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Adah
authors.forename: Pokop W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Bupwatda
authors.forename: Emmanuel I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Agaba
authors.forename: Abraham O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Malu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D044383:Black People; D003248:Constipation / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D003625:Data Collection; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult