What To Do For A Child Diagnosed With IBS
January 5th, 2012
Having a child face any health issue can be of great concern. While a diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) under general terms not a life threatening diagnosis, it is an area for concern for children and adults. Often children who suffer from IBS also suffer from other underlying issues as well. Because of this, IBS should be treated not just symptomatically but more on a holistic diet and health basis. IBS is a disease that affects the bowels. It can make the digestive process painful and difficult for those who suffer from it. This can be especially difficult for children. The symptoms are often difficulty with, painful cramps, bloating and problems with passing bowels–some suffer from constipation while others can find themselves with diarrhea. In fact some patients suffer from both.
IBS Global Statistics
Irritable Bowel Syndrome does affect men and women across the globe. There is however a predominance of the disease among women. Global statistics show that 10-20% of the world’s population show symptoms associated with IBS. Mild symptoms affect approximately 70% of people diagnosed with IBS. The population suffering with more moderate symptoms affect approximately 25% of people diagnosed with the disorder and the remaining 5% of the people diagnosed with IBS report their symptoms are more severe.
Causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
The above symptoms are usually caused by a combination of abnormal function of the nerves and muscles in the bowel area. It has been noted that stress can be a significant mitigating issue and a trigger for those who suffer from this. For young teenage children, girls who are starting to menstruate may also find the symptoms are more exacerbated during this time due to increased swelling in the abdominal area.
Treatment Options
In milder cases of IBS, patients may be counseled on better eating habits and a healthier lifestyle. Children today need to add more fiber to their diet on a consistent basis. Many Processed foods do not offer the positive health benefits of fiber on a regular basis. This is why it is often recommended that for both children and adults suffering from IBS, that they work on putting together a healthy well balanced diet with fruits, vegetables and natural fiber. Help from their doctor or a digestive specialist or a dietitian can aid in children in designing a diet to aid the digestive process. With a proper diet and reducing stress factors the symptoms can ease significantly. Medication may be successful for patients suffering from more severe cases of IBS. Often alosetron for IBS is used to help alleviate symptoms. Children and their parents should working closely with a specialist doctor to give the best chance of finding the right solution for treating symptoms and keeping the disease from progressing to a more problematic state.