What symptoms lead to a definite diagnosis of IBS?

What symptoms lead to a definite diagnosis of IBS?

Lin Chang (UCLA Division of Digestive Diseases) gives expert video advice on: How is IBS diagnosed?; Can my family doctor diagnose IBS or do I need to see a specialist?; What symptoms lead to a possible diagnosis of IBS? and more...

The definitive diagnosis of IBS is actually made by the Rome Criteria, and these are symptom-based criteria. The one that we use right now is the Rome 3 criteria, so the patients have to have abdominal pain at least 3 days per month for the past 6 months. And at least have symptoms that are current and active for the last 3 months. The pain and discomfort has to be linked to 2 of 3 criteria. It has to be relieved with bowel movement, so after you go to the bathroom, the pain goes away at least temporarily. It has to be associated with a change in stool frequency, meaning that you have to go more than 3 times a day, or less than 3 times a week. And the last criteria is the pain or discomfort has to be associated with a change in stool form. So it's like lumpy, hard stools or loose, watery stools.