New guidelines for Doctors to simplify diagnosis of IBS

May 5, 2008 - PRLog -- New guidelines have recently been issued which for the first time allows for positive diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome. http://www.ibshealthcare.co.uk feels this will help sufferers avoid the time-consuming, often painful and stressful scenario they are currently subjected to when looking for help from their GPs.

New guidelines have been issued which for the first time allows for positive diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome. The guidelines offer advice to GPs that IBS should be specifically considered in patients with abdominal pain/discomfort stating that patients should have two out of four symptoms including: altered stool passage; abdominal bloating; symptoms made worse by eating; or passage of mucus. It is acknowledged in these guidelines that Doctors should clearly exclude causes other than IBS using a blood sample, to check full blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein level and antibody testing for coeliac disease, and note that for those with symptoms (noted as red flag indicators) such as unexpected weight loss, rectal bleeding or a family history of bowel of ovarian cancer it is recommended that they should be referred to secondary care for investigation.

By allowing for a positive diagnosis http://www.ibshealthcare.co.uk feels this could help to avoid the time-consuming, often painful and stressful scenario of the extensive invasive tests associated with these types of secondary care investigations, such as colonoscopies, which are currently used automatically as a process of elimination to rule out other possible diseases, before diagnosing IBS.

Clearly this still requires GPs to be responsible and vigilant to these other conditions and we are aware of cases where currently IBS is misdiagnosed and another condition later established, but we feel that this move provides greater legitimacy to IBS, which is generally, currently diagnosed as a “catch all” when they can’t otherwise explain. We are often left to feel that we are “making it up”. Any form of positive recognition of this often debilitating condition and the clarity that is afforded by the new guidelines should help to reduce the mass of conflicting information provided to us. By encouraging the GP to listen to the range of symptoms we are experiencing during the consultation you would hope that they will be more sensitive to our suffering.

The guideline advises GPs to give IBS patients advice on how lifestyle, physical activity, diet and symptom-targeted medication which can help and improve their condition. Positive support to try pro-biotic supplements is also acknowledged. The guide confirms that patients should also be discouraged from eating insoluble fibre such as bran, and - if an increase in dietary fibre is needed - be told to eat more soluble fibre e.g. oats. Clearly IBS Healthcare would also suggest that there are a range of non licensed food supplements that may also help.

If you would like to read the summary of the guidelines then please visit http://www.ibshealthcare.co.uk

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About IBS Healthcare

IBS Healthcare are a team of scientists who have looked into the research behind Irritable Bowel Syndrome and established a database of information and help. They have pulled together everything from basic information on symptoms to detailed clinical evidence based research on the latest products to hit the market. As scientists they are also uniquely positioned to help sufferers source the specific IBS treatment products that they require.