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 OTHER NAMES
- Syndrome of the irritable intestine;
- Syndrome of spastic colon.
DEFINITION
The syndrome of the irritable colon is a disorder of the mobility of the digestive pipe, which it can affect at all his levels, causing variable grades of abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhea and abdominal distension after eating. The symptoms, in general, break loose for stress emotionally.
CAUSES, INCIDENCE AND FACTORS OF RISK
The syndrome of the irritable intestine is characterized by the alterations of the intestinal mobility; nevertheless, the structure of the intestine is normal. It happens more often in women, and more between the 20 and 30 years of age. Fond of 5 of every 1000 persons. The predisposing factors are:
- Diet poor in residues.
- Emotional Stress.
- Use of laxatives.
SYMPTOMS
- After eating, abdominal pain gets better on having defecated.
- Pertinacious constipation, or alternating with diarrhea for at least 6 months.
- Abdominal distension after eating.
- Morning sickness, vomiting.
- Emotional alterations, depression.
DIAGNOSIS
It is fundamental for his diagnosis to discard that there are other digestive illnesses that could provoke similar symptoms.
The physical examination and the tests practised (rectal tact, rectoscopia, colonoscopia, studies of laboratory, studies of the dregs) will not reveal any abnormality.
The distinguishing diagnosis includes a big variety of processes that they can affect to the intestine. Although the doctor diagnoses this syndrome, it must not prevent from supporting his suspicions of possible illnesses intercurrentes.
TREATMENT
The target of the treatment is to relieve the symptoms. The changes in the diet can help some patients, although there is no diet aplicacable to all. The most practical measurements are a diet rich in fibre, regular exercise and other measurements for disminuír the emotional stress, and in some cases, medicines anticolinérgicos (type Buscapina).
PROGNOSIS AND COMPLICATIONS
The syndrome of the irritable intestine can be an alteration of very long evolution — even of for life — but in general it gets better without problems with the treatment. It does not have major complications.
WHAT DOCTOR CAN TREAT ME?
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NAMES 
