Irritable bowel syndrome: Diagnosis and pathogenesis

Table 1 Rome III criteria for the diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome¹

Recurrent abdominal pain or discomfort with onset at least 6 mo prior to diagnosis, associated with 2 or more of the following, at least 3 d/mo in the last 3 mo

Improvement with defecation

Onset associated with change in frequency of stool

Onset associated with change in form (appearance) of stool

Symptoms that cumulatively support the diagnosis are:

Abnormal stool frequency (greater than 3 bowel movements per day or less than 3 bowels movements per week)

Abnormal stool form (lump/hard or loose/watery stool)

Abnormal stool passage (straining, urgency or feeling of incomplete evacuation)

Passage of mucous

Bloating or feeling of abdominal distension

¹Adapted from reference [1] with the permission from Nova Science Publisher, Inc.