Criteria for establishing the diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome. Irritable bowel syndrome is present when all other conditions have been diagnostically excluded and abdominal pain or discomfort is present on at least three days per month for the past three months, beginning at least 6 months ago with concomitant presence of at least two of the following (three) signs:
1. improvement after defecation
2. onset with change in stool frequency
3. onset with change in stool consistency or appearance
Secondary criteria: Abnormal stool frequency: > 3 / day or < 3 / week. abnormal stool consistency, problems with defecation such as imperative urge to defecate, extreme straining, incomplete evacuation; mucopurulent stools, flatulence-