RISKS FOR DEVELOPING POST-INFECTIOUS IBS
RISKS FOR DEVELOPING POST-INFECTIOUS IBS
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the frustrating and challenging condition that affects 15% of the U.S. population and causing chronic abdominal pain and altered bowel habits. It is well known that contracting an infectious gastroenteritis (a.k.a. stomach flu, GI bug, food poisoning, etc.) can be a trigger for some individuals to develop IBS, “according to recent estimates from a 2012 overview by Robin Spiller and Ching Lam, some 6% to 17% of IBS patients believe their condition began with an enteric infection.”
We do know that some individuals are at greater risk for developing post-infectious IBS after a gastrointestinal infection. Those risk factors are:
- More prolonged initial illness
- More toxic infecting strain (like salmonella, campylobacter, shigella, rather than many common viral illnesses that cause less severe GI symptoms)
- Smoking
- Abnormal labs showing more significant inflammation
- Female gender
- Depression
- Hypochondriasis
- Adverse life events in the preceding 3 months
- Treatment with antibiotics
Age older than 60 might protect against post-infectious IBS!
Check out the link to the article for more details and read about the concern that this condition may be increasing, especially with the rise of C. difficile infections in the healthy community population!
Whether your IBS started after an infection or not, the team at Comprehensive Gastrointestinal Health can help! Our providers are well versed in all of the latest treatment options for IBS (and other functional GI conditions) including nutritional interventions, optimizing the mind-connection with gut directed hypnotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy, and utilizing the huge variety of potentially beneficial supplements and medications. One size does not fit all – you need to have an individualized treatment plan.
We are eager to help IMPROVE YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE and have you THINK LESS ABOUT YOUR GUT. Call 224.407.4400 or visit compgihealth.com to schedule a consultation.