Irritable bowel syndrome: clinical manifesrtations and relation to lactase deficiency

ABSTRACT

Eight hundred and four medical students, selected by multistage random sampling, filled a questionnaire, adapted from Manning's criteria for irritable bowel syndrome [IBS]. More than 16% of students were found to fulfil the criteria for IBS. H2 breath test, both fasting and after ingestion of 50 gm lactose, was performed on the 64 students with, and 115 without IBS. There was a statistically significant correlation between the prevalence of IBS and age [p<0.001], while no correlation was found with sex, or marital status. Food intolerance, history of acid peptic disease, and symptoms of dyspepsia were more frequent in students with IBS [p<0.001]. Twenty-five% of the students with IBS had nocturnal symptoms. Lactose intolerance was present in 8% of the study group, with no correlation with IBS. It is concluded that IBS is a common gastrointestinal disorder in Iran and some features are probably different from those described in other geographic regions