Functional bowel disorders are highly prevalent disorders found worldwide. These disorders
have the potential to affect all members of society, regardless of age, sex, race, creed, color,
or socioeconomic status. Improving our understanding of functional bowel disorders (FBD) is
critical, as they impose a negative economic impact to the global health care system in
addition to reducing quality of life. Research in the basic and clinical sciences during the
past decade has produced new information on the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology …

Employing a consensus approach, our working team critically considered the available
evidence and multinational expert criticism, revised the Rome II diagnostic criteria for the
functional bowel disorders, and updated diagnosis and treatment recommendations.
Diagnosis of a functional bowel disorder (FBD) requires characteristic symptoms during the
last 3 months and onset≥ 6 months ago. Alarm symptoms suggest the possibility of
structural disease, but do not necessarily negate a diagnosis of an FBD. Irritable bowel …