Short communication
English
Abdelaziz Alshaari,Kamal Jauoda, Muftah Alsahati, Mohamad Zew
Department of Internal Medicine and Chest Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Al- Arab University, Benghazi, Libya
JMJ 2009,Vol.9, No.3: 218-221
Abstract
Background: IBS is a common disorder. Urinary symptoms and sexual dysfunction are more common in IBS than organic bowel disease population due to smooth muscle hyper-responsiveness. There may also be an association of IBS and primary fibromyalgia. There are few studies about the association of IBS and respiratory symptoms. These studies have determined that subjects who were diagnosed as asthmatics were more likely to suffer symptoms of IBS. Objectives: The purpose of our study was to investigate the prevalence of IBS in asthmatic patients. Patients and methods: 199 subjects diagnosed as bronchial asthma was registered in chest clinics in Jamahiriya and Kwaifia hospitals from 2004 to 2006 were studied. The study group and statistically matched control group were subjected to an abdominal symptoms questionnaire for IBS according to the Rome criteria. Results: In the study group (asthmatic), 22.61% were found to have IBS and in the control group, 5.53% were found to have IBS. The difference is significant (P < 0.001) i.e. IBS manifested more frequently in asthmatic than non- asthmatic patients. In 86.4% of patients who have both IBS and asthma, the GIT symptoms increase during asthma exacerbations and in about 44.2% of patients the GIT symptoms improved during bronchodilator use. Conclusion: We have found that IBS and the GIT symptoms related to it are more common in asthmatic patients than in control group. Our findings support the observation that asthma and IBS may share common pathophysiological processes Keywords: IBS, Asthma, GIT symptoms in Asthmatics, Asthma in IBS. Link/DOI: http://www.jmj.org.ly/PDF/autumn2009/218.pdf