10% of Pinoys have irritable bowel syndrome

MANILA, Philippines - Ten percent of Filipinos suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and the figure is expected to rise due to stress, an official of the Philippine Society of Gastroenterology (PSG) said yesterday.

Marichona Naval, president of PSG, said that a study by the PSG two years ago found that 8 to 10 percent of Filipinos have IBS. Worldwide, about 20 percent of the population suffer from this condition. 

She also said that stress brought by a fast-paced life is a big factor in acquiring IBS, and it is likely that more Filipinos will develop this illness in the future.

“The other risk factor is diet. We should be able to identify diet that can cause IBS, like if you eat a lot of dairy products and then acidic food and, of course, spicy food. These can also give you IBS,” Naval said during a press briefing organized by pharmaceutical firm Menarini.

IBS is a chronic disorder that affects the large intestine, or colon. The symptoms are abdominal pain, fullness, gas, changes in bowel movement, and bloating that can last for at least three days in a month for three months. The symptoms range from mild to severe.

“The pain and other symptoms will often be reduced or go away after a bowel movement and occur when there is change in how often you have bowel movements. People with IBS may switch between constipation and diarrhea,” according to a fact sheet given to reporters.

While IBS is not life-threatening, it could affect a person’s quality of life.

“The concern in IBS is the changes in the quality of life. You are more likely to be absent from work... It’s a long-term disease that will come on and off. It’s recurrent,” Naval said.

Since the actual causes of IBS remain unknown, the illness is not yet curable but symptoms could be treated with proper medication, according to professor Pere Clave, president of the European Society for Swallowing Disorder.

During the press briefing, Menarini launched Otilonium bromide, an oral medication for IBS.

Naval, however, warned that there are “red flags” that tell when a person should see a doctor for IBS, such as when an individual is 50 years old or older.

Other signs are short history of weight loss, night symptoms, recent antibiotic use, and family history of colon cancer, anemia, and rectal bleeding.