Irritable bowel syndrome (colon irritabile): a common disease after COVID-19 infection

Introduction: "Irritable bowel syndrome" or colon irritabile is a widespread condition worldwide, affecting women more often than men. It is a clinical syndrome characterized by motility disorders (disturbances in bowel movement), including constipation, painful or painless diarrhea, and other complaints. It is a functional disorder with no organic cause, where psychological factors play a key role.Objective: To study the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) before and after the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on patients who were treated at the Gastroenterology and Surgery Clinic of University Hospital "Dr. Georgi Stranski" - Pleven, during the period 2018-2023.Materials and Methods: We present our experience through a retrospective analysis of 5,632 cases concerning the diagnosis and treatment of colon irritabile in patients aged 20 to 93 years from 2018-2023.Results and Discussion: Out of the 5,632 examined patients, 3,541 were diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome. In the past year, we found that treatment with Intesta (a metabiotic) capsules at 2x1 capsule per day, along with probiotics, is highly effective. Symptom relief can also be achieved through dietary measures and avoiding stress-inducing factors. In a significant proportion of IBS patients, psychotherapy methods help reduce symptoms.Conclusions: Various irritants—psycho-emotional, neurohumoral, medicinal, and other diseases—cause a more intense reaction of the colon compared to normal, which is the basis of IBS. Over the past two years, we have observed an increase in the number of patients with irritable bowel syndrome following COVID-19 infection compared to before the pandemic, when the number of diagnosed cases was significantly lower. Effective treatment is achieved through a comprehensive approach.