Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common diagnosis at pediatric gastroenterology practices in America. Experienced pediatric gastroenterologist Israel Kochin M.D. has the specialized training needed to help your child with irritable bowel syndrome so they can get back to enjoying their childhood. There are two offices in the Midwood neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, and the Elmhurst neighborhood of Queens, New York, so call the nearest office or book an appointment online today for pediatric help with IBS. 

What is irritable bowel syndrome?

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a gastrointestinal condition affecting the large intestine. It can affect both children and adults. This disorder can cause significant abdominal pain and other bowel symptoms. 

What are the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in children?

Irritable bowel syndrome symptoms in children include:

• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Abdominal cramping or pain
• Bloating
• Gas
• Mucus in stool
• Bowel movement urgency
• Feeling full, even after a bowel movement 
• Nausea
• Heartburn

IBS may feature diarrhea or abdominal pain alone (IBS-D) or in combination (IBS-M).

What causes irritable bowel syndrome?

IBS is a functional disorder, which means it’s an issue with brain-gut interaction instead of a problem with the structure of the intestines. But, the precise cause of this abnormal interaction isn’t definitively known. 

Experts believe that multiple factors may play a role, including bacteria overgrowth in the large intestine, genetics, severe infections, and changes in the gut microbiome. 

Certain foods (triggers) can make irritable bowel syndrome symptoms worse, such as dairy products, wheat, beans, cabbage, and carbonated beverages. Stress can be a trigger, as well. 

How is irritable bowel syndrome diagnosed?

Dr. Kochin reviews your child’s health history and asks several questions about your child’s symptoms to determine whether your child has irritable bowel syndrome. 

There’s no specific test to diagnose IBS, but Dr. Kochin may recommend lab testing or a procedure like upper endoscopy or colonoscopy to rule out other conditions that cause the same symptoms. For example, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, has many similar symptoms but both are very different from IBS.

How is irritable bowel syndrome treated?

Dr. Kochin may ask you to keep a diary tracking your child’s symptoms and the circumstances around them. He uses this information and his comprehensive medical review to determine what triggers your child’s IBS. Then, he recommends dietary or lifestyle changes to avoid those things.

He might recommend other changes, like drinking more water, eating adequate healthy fiber, and adding supplements to support good digestive health. He may prescribe stool softeners, laxatives, or other medications to ease your child’s abdominal cramping and other uncomfortable symptoms. 

If your child has recurrent abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, gas, or bloating, it’s time to schedule an evaluation at the nearest office of Israel Kochin M.D. to determine whether it’s IBS. Call or book an appointment online today.