IBS and Diet
“Drugs are a last option. Patients should try dietary modifications, relaxation techniques, and other lifestyle changes, such as exercise, before resorting to medication,” Altepeter says.
Certain foods and drinks can trigger IBS symptoms in some patients. The most common are foods rich in carbohydrates, spicy or fatty foods, milk products, coffee, alcohol and caffeine.
IBS and Children
It’s difficult to diagnose IBS in children because its symptoms are so common, and may be seen in a variety of conditions. Young children may not verbalize their symptoms the same way that teenagers or adults can. The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC) reports that one study of children in North America found that girls and boys are equally prone to having IBS. The study also found that as many as 14% of high school students and 6% of middle school students have IBS.
Diagnosing IBS in young children remains a challenge, as does its treatment. FDA has not approved any drugs for treating IBS symptoms in children.
This article appears on the FDA’s Consumer Updates page, which features the latest on all FDA-regulated products.