Prevalence of irritable Bowel syndrome in chronic fatigue

The aetiologies of irritable bowel syndrome and chronic fatigue are unknown. Psychological as well as physical factors have been implicated in both. Fatigue is common in irritable bowel syndrome patients. The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome in chronic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of London 1996-11, Vol.30 (6), p.512-513
Main Authors: GOMBORONE, J. E, GORARD, D. A, DEWSNAP, P. A, LIBBY, G. W, FARTHING, M. J. G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biology
Colonic Diseases, Functional - epidemiology
Diseases
England - epidemiology
Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic - complications
History of science and technology
Humans
Life sciences
Medicine
surgery
pharmacy
Original Papers
Pathology
Prevalence
Self-Help Groups
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Summary:The aetiologies of irritable bowel syndrome and chronic fatigue are unknown. Psychological as well as physical factors have been implicated in both. Fatigue is common in irritable bowel syndrome patients. The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome in chronic fatigue sufferers. A bowel symptom questionnaire was sent to all 4,000 members of a self-help group for fatigue sufferers. Of the 1,797 who responded, 1,129 (63%) fulfilled a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome (recurrent abdominal pain and at least three Manning criteria). This greatly exceeds estimates of irritable bowel syndrome prevalence of up to 22% in the general population. Furthermore, irritable bowel syndrome sufferers within this chronic fatigue population reported more Manning criteria (14% had all six Manning criteria) than irritable bowel syndrome sufferers in the general population. This study demonstrates an overlap of symptoms in chronic fatigue and irritable bowel syndrome. In chronic fatigue, irritable bowel symptoms may be one aspect of a more generalised disorder.
ISSN:0035-8819