What is postinfectious IBS (PI-IBS)?
- IBS symptoms develop in approximately 10% of healthy individuals after an infectious gastroenteritis. PI-IBS is most commonly reported after a bacterial infection such as Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Shigella, but has also been reported after viral, bacterial, protozoa, and nematode infections.
- Even after clearing the infection, there remains an increase in inflammatory (including CD3 lymphocytes, CD8 intraepithelial lymphocytes, and calprotectin-positive macrophages) and neuroendocrine cells that can release cytokines, serotonin, and other molecules that are capable of stimulating motor and sensory neurons in the GI tract.
- Risk factors for developing PI-IBS in persons who have had gastroenteritis are (1) female gender, (2) age younger than 60 years, (3) absence of vomiting, and (4) prolonged diarrhea with the infection.
- Additionally, anxiety, neurosis, somatization, and stressful life events before or during the infection also appear to be risk factors for determining who will develop IBS.
