They are working very hard on it all. IBS is an extremly complex condition. There are some 28 functional bowel disorders as well. IBS is the most studied of these disorders.
IBS however, IS NOT an infectious disease. It can be caused by an enteric infection, hence post infectious IBS, but after the infection goes away, there are cellualr changes in the gut of mast cells and ec cells which are very important to digestion, and pain from the gut to the brain signiling and the symptoms.
The Colon is hypersensitve to all stimlous and why foods, hormones and stress and anxiety can set if off.
A lot of work is being done and has been done in regards to bacteria itself and IBS.
Bacteria are germs that are normally in the gut. They are often referred to as the gut flora. Most bacteria are in the large intestine (colon). Some bacteria can cause infection; these are called pathogens. Other bacteria can be helpful. These helpful (or "good") bacteria are called probiotics. Medicines that destroy bacteria are called antibiotics.
During IFFGD's 7th International Symposium on Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders in April 2007, we had the opportunity to interview a leading researcher, Eamonn Quigley, MD, on the topics of probiotics and antibiotics. Dr. Quigley is Professor of Medicine and Human Physiology at University College, Cork (National University of Ireland). Brooks Cash, MD adds comments about issues of safety and effectiveness of antibiotics.
In some people with IBS a subtle inflammation persists for some time after recovery from an initial infection and obvious inflammation. This can cause increased sensation in the intestines and changes in gut motility consistent with symptoms of IBS.
Increasingly our understanding of IBS is that it is a heterogeneous disorder – that is, multiple factors contribute to the well defined symptoms of the disorder. One of these suspected underlying dysfunctions involves serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter or messenger to nerves. Most serotonin in the body is in cells that line the gut where it senses what is going on and through receptors signals nerves that stimulate a response. The serotonin must then be reabsorbed (a process called re-uptake) into cells. This process appears to be disrupted in people with IBS.
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Re: Candida
