How Does IBS Start | Irritable Bowel Syndrome

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In my last post I wrote about a couple of the recognized onset events for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Those included genetics and gender. Additional factors include infection and inflammation, and environmental factors.

Infection and inflammation

Four decades ago researchers recognized that some of their patients developed IBS symptoms after an
an enteritis, or small intestine inflammation. In more recent years, studies have shown that people who experience digestive system infections have an increased risk of developing IBS. For some of these patients the symptoms of abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhea continue after the infection has been resolved. And for most of these patients, the symptoms will disappear over time. However, data suggests that from 4% to 32% of patients will suffer from persistent IBS symptoms after a digestive system infection.

It is not understood why IBS symptoms continue after the infection is cleared. One theory is that the infection may permanently damage the enteric nervous system, which is the part of the nervous system that controls the gastrointestinal system. Another hypothesis is that the infection impacts the immune system leading to chronic inflammation of the bowel. This in turn leads to changes in the motility, or movement of stool through the intestines, intestinal sensitivity.
Another possibility may be damage to tissue in the intestines which alters it’s functioning.
Patients who have a longer intestinal illness and those who do not vomit generally have IBS symptoms longer due to toxin exposure
Environmental factors
Genetic factors do not complexly explain why some people develop IBS. It is believed that environmental factors also play a role. There have been several studies that support the view that parental history of IBS is a risk factor for IBS development in children. Parental modeling may also be a factor in development of IBS. As an example, a study of 81 children showed that parental rejection of a child is linked to the development of physical illness.