| Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a condition that affects | | | | and there is no cure. In fact medical treatment has |
| more than twenty percent of Americans and is in the | | | | fallen well below patients' expectation. |
| top 10 most common chronic medical condition in | | | | Although no one can give you a specific cause for |
| USA. Sufferers with Irritable Bowel Syndrome have | | | | Irritable Bowel Syndrome, there are various |
| abdominal pain often eased by defaecation. In | | | | suggestions. There is a higher incidence of abuse in |
| addition there is associated bloating and altered bowel | | | | IBS patients (Talley et al 1994: 50% of IBS patients |
| habits and form. Constipation and/or diarrhoea are | | | | reported abuse). In addition at least 20% of severe |
| common. | | | | gastroenteritis (especially bacterial) develops Irritable |
| At present no one knows the exact cause, no one | | | | Bowel Syndrome. |
| treatment is effective in a large group of patients | | | | |