What is irritable bowel syndrome?
Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS for short, is a bowel disorder that is associated with abdominal pain and changes in bowel habit. It is a functional bowel disorder meaning that there is no evident disease process but is rather associated with a disturbance in the normal functioning of the bowel. IBS is also known by another now outdated term – ‘spastic colon’. It is often confused with IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) which is another common yet less prevalent disorder that is due to actual disease processes affecting the bowels.
What is Inflammatory Bowel Disease?
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is chronic inflammation of the bowels, mainly the large intestine, due to an immune reaction. It should not be confused with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) which is a functional bowel condition of unknown cause. The bowels comprise the small intestine and large intestine which are jointly the largest parts of the alimentary tract. The large intestine is made up of the caecum, colon and rectum. IBD mainly affects the colon and often includes the rectum or ileum, which the last part of the small intestine. Rarely some types of IBD can affect any part of the alimentary tract including the mouth and stomach.
Gastroenteritis is the inflammation of the stomach and intestines (small and large) as a result of an infection. It is often referred to as the gastric flu or stomach flu but it is not related to influenza. Sometimes loose stool and a bit of nausea may be noticed in influenza but the gastric flu is much more pronounced. Gastroenteritis is a common infection that accounts for millions of deaths globally but with proper management, it can pass in a few days without requiring treatment.
Diarrhoea, or “runny tummy”/”running stomach”, is frequent liquid stools or loose bowel movements which is one of the most common illnesses that affects all age groups. In most cases it resolves on its own without leading to any complications. However, in babies, toddlers and children, a parent has to be especially careful and guard against dehydration. This can rapidly set in with dangerous consequences and may even become life-threatening. In babies, sometimes the stool can be so liquid that it can be mistaken for urine.
The frequency of bowel movement in a normal states can range from three motions per day to one every third day. Normal stool consistency can vary from soft, porridge-like, to hard and pellet-like. Increased stool frequency, more than three times in a day, with passage of loose, unformed, watery stools is known as diarrhoea – runny tummy or loose motion.
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Food poisoning is the food-borne illness that you may contract when you eat contaminated food. This is a common ailment which most of us will experience at some time in our life and can be avoided with proper handling and storing of food. It can affect both food and drinks and causes severe symptoms such as diarrhoea and vomiting. If left untreated, food poisoning can be potentially fatal, especially in debilitated and immunocompromised patients.
