title: Multicultural considerations in the diagnosis and management of irritable bowel syndrome: a selective summary.
abstract: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder that is characterized by chronic and recurrent abdominal symptoms with no associated organic abnormalities. Although IBS has traditionally been considered to be more common in western cultures, a review of the literature reveals that IBS is truly a worldwide illness, affecting people in many different cultural and geographic areas. According to this review, a reasonable range for the worldwide prevalence of IBS is between 5 and 15%. Several theories for varying prevalence rates around the world are presented in this paper and methodological difficulties are discussed. Finally, this short review provides an analysis of cultural, biological, and socioeconomic differences in IBS presentation and treatment around the world.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA. sarahballou2015@u.northwestern.edu
authors.forename: Sarah K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ballou
authors.forename: Laurie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Keefer
mesh_terms: D018864:Cultural Diversity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors