Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders

General Principles

  • Functional GI disorders are characterized by the presence of abdominal symptoms in the absence of a demonstrable organic disease process. Symptoms can arise from any part of the luminal gut.
  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), primarily characterized by abdominal pain linked to altered bowel habits of at least 3 months in duration, is the best-recognized functional bowel disease.1

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