Current Strategies in the Management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Abstract

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most studied and discussed problems in the field of gastroenterology, yet it often remains perplexing to both clinicians and patients. Some of the apprehension comes from a void of objective data that defines a diagnosis in most disorders. This level of comfort is not appreciated in the evaluation of IBS, where the art of medicine and subjective impressions are the cornerstones of proper assessment. Though this paper focuses on management, a review of pathophysiology and specific guidelines establishing a diagnosis of IBS will be addressed.