New treatment guidelines for irritable bowel syndrome released

摘要

New guidelines for the management of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are being released by the American College of Gastroenterology, providing clinicians with an up-to-date, comprehensive and practical set of recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.IBS is a common gastrointestinal disorder, the symptoms of which can include cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation and/or diarrhea. Despite being the most frequently diagnosed disease by gastroenterologists, IBS is also one of the most misunderstood.Following an increased understanding of the disease in recent years, it was deemed necessary to update the American College of Gastroenterology guidelines on the management of IBS, last published in 2002. "The College recognized that in the span of five to six years there has been a remarkable explosion in knowledge that's become available that's helped us to understand the cause and management of IBS," says William Chey, who, along with Philip Schoenfeld, helped to develop the new evidence-based recommendations.