The Prevalence of Irritable Bowel Syndrome among Medical and Non-Medical Suez Canal University Students

Abstract

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most frequently diagnosed gastrointestinal (GI) disorders in primary care and gastroenterology practices, despite the fact that many suffer symptoms without knowing their diagnosis or seek for medical consult, so this study aims to explore the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) among Suez Canal university students. Methods: A cross section. With multistage cluster probability sample. Using Rome criteria III IBS module, the questionnaire was administrated to Suez Canal university students; a population consisting of (86) students of the faculty of medicine & non-medical (84) students of the faculty of commerce English section with total (170) students of the third batch from both faculties (whose mean age is 20 ± 0.82) years old with total (109) females and (61) males. Results: The prevalence of IBS according to Rome III criteria in Suez Canal University was 22.9%. 23.8% were diseased in the faculty of commerce while 22.1% in faculty of medicine. Females in this study represent 64.1% of the sample, 30.3% of them were diseased, while males represent 35.9% about 9.8% of them were diseased. IBS constipation predominant type was 28.2%, diarrhea predominant type was 15.4%, mixed type was 46.2%, the unsubtyped cases represent 10.3%. Conclusion: Irritable bowel syndrome is a common disease among Suez Canal university students, more common in non medical students than medical ones, can be considered as a female predominant disease. And this requires a real medical concern.