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April is IBS Awareness Month! Join us in spreading awareness, breaking stigma, and supporting those with IBS Join our social campaign Share the hashtags #IBSAwarenessMonth and #MoreThanAStomachache Download our IBS Media Toolkit IBS This year, IFFGD and the community raise awareness, promote understanding, and offer compassion to those living with IBS– the theme for IBS […]

Abnormal functioning of the nerves and muscles of the bowel produce the symptoms of IBS. A “dysregulation” between the brain, the gut, and the central nervous system causes the bowel to become “irritated,” or overly sensitive to stimuli. Symptoms may occur even in response to normal events. A number of symptoms that occur together characterize […]

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a gastrointestinal (GI) condition that causes recurrent attacks of abdominal pain or discomfort in association with bowel habits. This condition affects up to 5-10% of individuals worldwide and it can affect children and adults of both genders. Although irritable bowel syndrome does not shorten a person’s life span, it is […]

Constipation is one of the most common intestinal problems in children, accounting for 3% to 5% of all visits to pediatricians. It is a symptom, not a disease. Fortunately, most constipation in infants and children is not caused by any serious medical disease. The cause of most constipation is functional or idiopathic, meaning there is […]

The main functions of the colon and anorectum (collectively known as the large intestine) are to mix and absorb water from ingested material, to store fecal wastes, and to eliminate them voluntarily at a suitable time. A wide variety of neurologic diseases (disorders involving the nervous system) can affect colonic and anorectal function and are […]

  Many otherwise healthy, active people suffer from incontinence or loss of bowel control. Fecal incontinence (FI) is also called bowel incontinence, and may also be called accidental bowel leakage. It strikes men and women of all ages and involves the involuntary loss of solid or liquid stool. Incontinence is a long-term, stressful, and limiting […]

Constipation remains one of the most common intestinal problems affecting children – and a source of bewilderment and worry for many parents. Fortunately, most constipation in infants and children is not caused by any serious underlying medical disease. The challenge, therefore, is for parents to manage constipation, guided by an understanding of why their child […]

By Nancy J. Norton, Former President and Founder, International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD) If you think fecal incontinence is a problem of old age, you are partly right. Although it does affect the elderly, people of all ages live with fecal incontinence. In fact, many older people have been trying to cope with […]

At a Glance Hirschsprung’s disease is a rare condition that people are born with Symptoms usually appear in newborns, but may also appear in childhood or adulthood Diagnosis is usually made within the first few months or years of life Sometimes diagnosis is made in adulthood Tests confirm the diagnosis Treatment is surgical Some symptoms […]

In December 2007, with vigorous encouragement from IFFGD, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) conducted an NIH State-of-the-Science Conference on Prevention of Fecal and Urinary Incontinence in Adults. The conference resulted in a strong statement by the NIH about the huge unmet need of those who are affected by incontinence. The NIH Panel reported […]