Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Children
(IBS in
Children)
What is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?
IBS is a functional
gastrointestinal
disorder marked by abdominal pain or discomfort,
bloating, and irregular bowel
habits, such as diarrhea or constipation. Functional gastrointestinal disorders
are defined by their symptoms. IBS can cause a great deal of discomfort and
distress, but it is not life threatening, does not damage the bowel, and does
not progress to other diseases. IBS should not be confused with
inflammatory
bowel disease (IBD), a group of diseases including ulcerative colitis and
Crohn's disease.
What is the bowel?
The bowel is the section of the gastrointestinal tract
that begins after the stomach, ends at the anus, and has two main sections: the small intestine and
the large intestine—also called the colon.
Drawing of the gastrointestinal tract with the esophagus, liver, stomach,
small intestine, large intestine, and anus labeled.
The bowel has two main sections: the small intestine and the large intestine.
Picture of the Large Intestine
What causes IBS in children?
The cause of IBS is unknown. Research suggests people
with IBS are more sensitive to gas or stool in the colon. People with IBS can also have
abnormalities in how their intestines contract, called motility, which refers to
the rate stool moves through the intestines. Whereas a faster rate of movement
may cause diarrhea, a slower rate may result in constipation.
Researchers have proposed many explanations for the
increased bowel sensitivity and abnormal bowel motility associated with IBS, such as
- reactions to certain foods
- overgrowth of bacteria in the colon
- psychological stress, including
anxiety and
depression
- problems in the way the brain and the gastrointestinal tract communicate
with each other, called the brain-gut connection
Next: Who gets IBS? »
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