The Rome IV Diagnostic Criteria for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a clinical calculator used to diagnose IBS, a common gastrointestinal disorder. This calculator is applicable to patients who present with chronic abdominal pain and altered bowel habits, which are the primary symptoms of IBS.
The Rome IV criteria stipulate that for a diagnosis of IBS, patients must have recurrent abdominal pain, on average, at least 1 day per week in the last 3 months, associated with two or more of the following criteria: related to defecation, associated with a change in frequency of stool, and associated with a change in form (appearance) of stool. These criteria should be fulfilled for the last 3 months with symptom onset at least 6 months before diagnosis.
The clinical utility of this calculator is to provide a standardized, symptom-based approach to diagnose IBS, which can be a challenging condition to diagnose due to the lack of specific biomarkers or imaging findings. It helps clinicians to identify patients with IBS, guide treatment decisions, and potentially avoid unnecessary invasive procedures.
There are no specific exclusion criteria for the use of the Rome IV Diagnostic Criteria for IBS. However, it is important to note that these criteria should be used in conjunction with a thorough medical history and
Reference
Douglas A Drossman, William L Hasler. Rome IV-Functional GI Disorders: Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction. Gastroenterology. 2016 May;150(6):1257-61.
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