Irritable bowel syndrome

Summary

The advice in the NICE guideline covers the care of adults with irritable bowel syndrome, including:

• the support, treatment and advice people should be offered by their GP in diagnosing and helping to manage their irritable bowel syndrome
• circumstances when people need to be referred to a specialist for further tests.

It does not specifically look at:

• irritable bowel syndrome in children and young people under 18 years
• people with other gastrointestinal disorders such as non-ulcer dyspepsia (indigestion with no obvious cause) or coeliac disease.

Documents

For healthcare professionals

• CG61 Irritable bowel syndrome: appendices to full version
• CG61 Irritable bowel syndrome: full guidance
• CG61 Irritable bowel syndrome: NICE guideline (MS Word format)
• CG61 Irritable bowel syndrome: NICE guideline
• CG61 Irritable bowel syndrome: quick reference guide

For patients, carers and the public

• CG61 Irritable bowel syndrome: understanding NICE guidance (MS Word format)
• CG61 Irritable bowel syndrome: understanding NICE guidance

Background information

• 2008/012 NICE guideline to improve the diagnosis, care and management of irritable bowel syndrome in adults

Implementing this guidance

Any further information NICE has produced to help the NHS implement this guideline locally is linked to below:

• Irritable bowel syndrome: NICE/British Dietetic Association IBS dietary information resource
• Irritable bowel syndrome: algorithm of IBS diagnosis and management within primary care
• Irritable bowel syndrome: audit support
• Irritable bowel syndrome: presenter slides
• Irritable bowel syndrome: costing report
• Irritable bowel syndrome: costing template