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Síndrome del intestino irritable - Overview

Nombres alternativos

Colon irritable; Colitis mucosa; Colon espástico; Colitis espástica

Definición:

El síndrome del intestino irritable (SII) es un trastorno que lleva a dolor abdominal y cólicos, cambios en las deposiciones y otros síntomas.

No es lo mismo que enfermedad intestinal inflamatoria (EII), que abarca la enfermedad de Crohn y la colitis ulcerativa. En el síndrome del intestino irritable, la estructura del intestino no es anormal.

Causas:

No está claro por qué los pacientes presentan este síndrome, pero, algunas veces, ocurre después de una infección intestinal. Esto se denomina síndrome del intestino irritable posinfeccioso. Igualmente, puede haber otros desencadenantes.

El colon está conectado al cerebro. Las señales van y vienen entre el intestino y el cerebro. Éstas influyen en el funcionamiento intestinal y los síntomas. Los nervios pueden volverse más activos durante momentos de estrés, lo que provoca que los intestinos sean más sensibles y se compriman o se contraigan más.

Este síndrome puede ocurrir a cualquier edad, pero a menudo comienza en la adolescencia o a principios de la vida adulta y es dos veces más común en las mujeres que en los hombres.

Aproximadamente 1 de cada 6 personas en los Estados tiene síntomas de este síndrome. Esta afección es el problema intestinal más común que lleva a que los pacientes sean remitidos al especialista en el intestino (gastroenterólogo).

  • Reviewed last on: 7/22/2011
  • David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Referencias

Irritable bowel syndrome. NIH Publication No. 07-693. September 2007. The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC).

Talley NJ. Irritable bowel syndrome. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger & Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2010:chap 118.

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