What criteria are used to diagnose irritable bowel syndrome?
IBS is classically diagnosed by the Rome criteria, which were recently updated. IBS is defined as abdominal pain associated with at least two of the following: (A) the pain is temporally related to defecation, or (B) the pain is associated with a change in the patient’s stool frequency and/or (C) stool texture. These symptoms should be present, on average, 1 day/week for the past 3 months with symptom onset more than 6 months prior to making the diagnosis. Other associated symptoms include nausea, bloating, abdominal distention, borborygmi, and the increased passage of flatus.
