Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Diagnosis
The
diagnosis of IBS often can be suspected just by a review of the
patient’s medical history. In the end, however, it is a diagnosis of
exclusion; that is, other conditions of the bowel need to be ruled out
before a firm diagnosis of IBS can be made. A number of diseases of the gut, such as inflammation, cancer, and infection, can mimic some or all of the IBS symptoms. Certain medical tests are helpful in making this diagnosis, including blood, urine and stool exams, x-rays of the intestinal tract and a lighted tube exam of the lower intestine. This exam is called endoscopy, either sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy.
Additional tests may be required, depending on the specific circumstances in each case. If the proper medical history is obtained and if other diseases are ruled out, a firm diagnosis of IBS can then usually be made.
