ABSTRACT
The chapter opens with a case example of a patient with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The balance of the chapter focuses on the diagnostic criteria for and differential diagnosis of IBS and the medical tests people should undergo to be sure they don’t have a different disorder or disease, like celiac disease or an inflammatory bowel disease like Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis. The chapter concludes by encouraging patients to review their history of diagnostic workups and to contact their gastroenterologist if they are unsure about their diagnosis.
