Med. Pro Praxi 2010; 7(8-9): 313-317

Irritable bowel syndrome

doc. MUDr. Bohumil Seifert, Ph.D.

Ústav všeobecného lékařství 1. LF UK Praha

Complaints related to the lower gastrointestinal tract are among the most common reasons for seeing a general practitioner as well as

a common reason for referral to specialist care. The patients who consult a physician only represent a fraction of those whose complaints

could be characterised as irritable bowel syndrome or other functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. The reasons why the majority

of patients do not consult their physician may be the bearable nature of their complaints or little faith in medical help. Patients with

functional disorders, including differential diagnosis, pose a burden for both general practitioners and gastroenterologists with the

burden of the latter being dependent to a high degree on the tolerance of the former‘s diagnostic uncertainty and confidence to establish

a positive diagnosis of a functional disorder. In order to help general practitioners in their approach to patients with these complaints, the

„Lower dyspeptic syndrome“ (1) guideline was issued by the Society of General Practice of the J. E. Purkyně Czech Medical Association

in 2005. It is the personality of the physician and his ability to explain the problem and reassure the patient that is particularly involved

in the therapeutic approach to patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Although the efficacy of pharmacotherapy is limited, drugs are

available that can prevent or alleviate the predominant symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhoea or constipation. Nonpharmacological,

dietary and lifestyle measures and/or psychological therapy and the combinations of the above are part of the treatment.

Keywords: irritable bowel syndrome, general practitioner, diarrhoea, constipation

Published: October 1, 2010  Show citation