A correct diagnosis of IBS will ensure that the right treatment path is sought and the discomfort associated with IBS symptoms is alleviated.
How to Diagnose IBS
Since no exclusive blood or stool tests exist to diagnose IBS, the syndrome’s signs and symptoms must be closely monitored by medical professionals over a period of 12 months. Doctors will look for abnormal bowel movements (i.e. either less than three to four per week or more than three in a day), hard or watery stools, traces of mucus in the stools and gas, and abdominal pain or cramping.
These criteria provide a rough indication that IBS may be present in a patient. However, if abnormal bowel movements are accompanied by fever, weight loss or blood in stools, a doctor may require a colonoscopy or barium test to rule out other intestinal diseases.
For more information on IBS, see below:
Antibiotic May Treat Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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