Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a gastrointestinal disorder characterized by altered bowel habits and abdominal pain in the absence of detectable structural abnormalities. Osler, who first described the condition in 1892, coined the term mucous colitis. Since then the disorder has been referred to as spastic, irritable or nervous colon. It is estimated that only 10–25% of those with IBS seek medical care. In the United States, the economic impact of the disorder is estimated at $25 billion annually through direct costs of health care and indirect costs of absenteeism from work …