IBS-like disorders in inflammatory bowel disease in children: pathogenesis and diagnosing

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a complex of functional symptoms characterized by recurrent abdominal pain accompanied by constipation, diarrhea or their alternation. However, clinical manifestations of inflammatory bowel diseases in remission are quite often characterized by IBS-like symptoms, which complicates the differential diagnosis of the diseases. The aim of this review was to expand the understanding of the mechanisms of IBS-like symptoms in children with inflammatory bowel disease. In addition to symptom similarity, there are a number of other pathophysiologic similarities between these diseases that include genetic factors, alterations in immune regulation, changes in the intestinal microbiota, and epithelial barrier function. Therefore, further research is needed to investigate the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease with IBS-like symptoms in order to optimize individual therapeutic strategies in these patients. Key words: inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, IBS-like symptoms, diagnosis