How to diagnose IBS - What you should know?

How to diagnose IBS - What should you know?

02 July 2024

How to diagnose IBS - What you should know?

How to Diagnose IBS - How to Effectively Identify This Problem?

A diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is an exclusionary diagnosis, meaning that doctors must rule out other potential causes of symptoms before making a diagnosis of IBS. IBS symptoms can be similar to many other conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, or food intolerances. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the diagnostic process in order to effectively manage this condition and improve your quality of life. In this article, you will learn what the most common symptoms of IBS are, what tests can be performed, and what steps can be taken to identify and alleviate symptoms.

Diagnose Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): Step by Step

Diagnosing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a process consisting of several key steps to thoroughly understand and rule out other possible causes of symptoms.

Medical history

The first step in diagnosing IBS is a detailed medical history conducted by a doctor or nutritionist. The patient describes his or her symptoms, their frequency, severity and factors that may trigger or exacerbate them, such as diet, stress or other life factors.

Exclusion tests

It is worth noting that IBS can only be a symptom of another comorbid condition, or it can be another condition that manifests itself similarly. To understand the full diagnosis and the degree of difficulty in making a correct diagnosis, I will introduce you to these particular conditions:

Diseases That May Resemble IBS

During diagnosis, it is also necessary to distinguish IBS from other diseases that may manifest similar symptoms. These include:

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD): Such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, which are characterized by inflammation and damage to the intestinal mucosa
Celiac disease: An autoimmune disease caused by gluten, which causes damage to the intestinal mucosa.
Irritable bowel syndrome: Although this term is often used interchangeably with IBS, it actually refers to patients who react to foods and stress in ways that are not easily explained medically.
Thyroid diseases - Thyroid disorders, such as hypothyroidism (hypothyroidism), can cause IBS-like symptoms, such as constipation and gastrointestinal problems.
Liver diseases
Electrolyte levels - Testing the levels of electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium and magnesium, is important for diagnosis, as electrolyte disorders can lead to heart rhythm disturbances and other serious health problems that can mimic IBS symptoms

Comorbidities with IBS

People with suspected IBS may also suffer from other comorbidities, such as:

Food intolerances: Such as lactose intolerance, fructose intolerance or sorbitol intolerance, which can exacerbate IBS symptoms.
Syndrome of Excessive Bacterial Growth in the Small Intestine (SIBO): This syndrome is characterized by the presence of excessive amounts of bacteria in the small intestines, which can lead to a variety of symptoms, including digestive problems, bloating and irregular bowel movements. It is often diagnosed with IBS
Histamine intolerance - can lead to symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhea, which are common in IBS patients.

What tests should be performed?

The diagnosis of IBS is an exclusionary diagnosis, which means that it is necessary to rule out other diseases and digestive disorders that may cause similar symptoms. Laboratory tests play a key role in this process, helping the doctor identify possible causes of the patient's symptoms.

Laboratory tests

Complete blood count (CBC): Helps rule out anemia that could be due to chronic gastrointestinal bleeding, which could be caused by diseases other than IBS
Liver tests (ALT, AST, bilirubin) can help rule out liver disease, which can also cause similar symptoms to IBS.
TSH (ft3,ft4) - TSH levels can be checked to rule out hypothyroidism, which can also lead to similar symptoms to IBS.
Tests for inflammation: CRP (C-reactive protein) can be measured as a marker of inflammation, which can be elevated in some inflammatory bowel diseases or other inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract.
IgE and tests for food allergens
Salt, potassium, magnesium

Fecal tests

Test for the presence of blood in the stool: Helps rule out gastrointestinal bleeding, which may be caused by diseases other than IBS.
Pathogen test: Rules out bacterial or parasitic infections that may mimic IBS symptoms.

Depending on the test results, a doctor or nutritionist makes a diagnosis or performs further tests.

If the results are normal, the next step is to do a test for food intolerances especially gluten, wheat, lactose.
As well as a test for histamine intolerance or DAO enzyme can be a useful test. I think it's good to include it testing in order to choose the right treatment and diet.
And, of course, methane-hydrogen tests for SIBO are quite expensive, but they may be necessary

If you have any doubts or have been struggling with intestinal problems for a long time, I invite you to contact me. Together we can find a way to improve your well-being and gut health.

In this article I will explain What to do to cure IBS symptoms as well as IBS itself :)

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