title: Irritable bowel syndrome.
abstract: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder that leads to crampy pain, gassiness, bloating, and changes in bowel habits in the absence of any currently identifiable organic disorder. Patients with IBS may be classified by their predominant bowel habit: diarrhea-predominant, constipation-predominant, or IBS with alternating bowel movements. IBS is often associated with stress or anxiety. Although IBS can be frustrating and concerning to patients with this disorder, it does not cause permanent harm to the intestines and does not lead to a serious disease such as cancer. Although treatments exist for its symptoms, there is no known cure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine, 845 Fishburn Road, Hershey, PA 17033, USA. mmalone@hmc.psu.edu
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Malone
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010808:Physical Examination; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents