Irritable Bowel Syndrome
A condition in which there is abnormally rapid movement of the small and large intestine often linked to emotional stress or diet, which produces diarrhea and pain. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can affect children (especially girls), giving them a puzzling set of digestive complaints. Sometimes it is cramps, gas, and diarrhea; sometimes it is bloating and constipation; and sometimes it is alternating bouts of both. Children with IBS may sometimes pass mucus with their bowel movements, but they have no rectal bleeding or fever. IBS often troubles children during times of stress—family problems, divorce, moving, taking exams, even going on vacations, but IBS is not a psychological problem; it has a physical cause.
Cause
People with IBS have bowels that go into spasms more easily than those who do not, but scientists do not yet know why. What they do know that certain types of foods (milk, chocolate, caffeine) can trigger IBS in children.
Treatment
Not surprisingly, IBS symptoms often improve when trigger foods are limited. Increasing fiber in the diet and using techniques to relieve stress also seem to help. If necessary, the child’s doctor may prescribe medicines to relieve symptoms.
