ABSTRACT
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a motility disorder recognized clinically as the coexistence of abdominal pain, abdominal bloating and altered bowel habit, in the absence of organic disease. It is the commonest reason for referral to gastroenterologists and is close to the common cold as a cause of absence from work. Although 15-20% of the population have symptoms that justify the diagnosis of IBS, only 20% of these seek medical attention. The reason that some seek medical attention (and become ‘patients’) whereas others with a similar severity of symptoms do not, remains unclear (chapter 2, p. 14). The prevalence of IBS in the population is similar between the sexes, but female outnumber male patients by 2:1.
