Probiotics in the management of irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common functional bowel disorder diagnosed by primary care physicians and gastroenterologists. Estimation of the exact prevalence of IBS is complicated, because up to 70% of persons with symptoms of IBS do not seek medical treatment. The ratio of female-to-male sufferers is approximately 2:1. IBS affects up to 1 in 5 Americans and is second only to the common cold as a leading cause of workplace absenteeism in the United States. IBS costs the US health care system up to an estimated $20 to $25 billion annually in direct and indirect costs. IBS is an episodic condition that is accompanied by a wide range of symptoms, including abdominal pain and discomfort, bloating, and altered bowel function (constipation and/or diarrhea).