Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS, is a digestive condition that affects bowel habits and abdominal comfort. It is called a functional disorder because the gut may look normal on tests while still working in a troublesome way.
Common symptoms
IBS may cause abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation, or a mix of both. Symptoms often come and go.
What IBS is not
IBS is different from inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. IBS does not usually cause intestinal bleeding, fever, or the same kind of tissue inflammation.
Blood in stool, unexplained weight loss, persistent fever, severe pain, or symptoms that start later in life should be checked promptly.