Unlike other medical conditions, IBS is diagnosed by eliminating all other bowel conditions that may cause similar symptoms. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional disorder. This means that there is no disease process that can be seen or measured in the bowels. But tests are still necessary. Your doctor will run several different tests to exclude other bowel conditions and once this is done, then your symptoms will be attributed to IBS.
What is irritable bowel syndrome?
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a condition where there is abnormality of bowel habit often with abdominal pain. In the past it used to be referred to as spastic colon. But it is now known that this is an inaccurate description of the condition. Irritable bowel syndrome is not a disease. It is a functional disorder meaning that there is a distortion of otherwise normal bowel processes. IBS can affect any person of any age. However, it appears to be more common among females and starts in the late teens to early adulthood.