[Parasitosis and irritable bowel syndrome]

Rev Chilena Infectol. 2016 Jun;33(3):268-74. doi: 10.4067/S0716-10182016000300003.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional disorder of the gastrointestinal tract characterised by multi-factorial aetiology. In IBS physiopathology are involved diverse factors between them biological, psychosocial, and environmental components which affect the immune activation status of gut mucosa. Among these factors is recognized the intestinal parasitosis. Post-infection IBS (PI-IBS) is recognised as a subgroup of functional disorders whose symptoms onset appear after a symptomatic intestinal infection caused by microbial agents. There are few studies regarding of relationship between IBS and intestinal parasitosis in Chile. However, is has been well described a positive association between IBS and Blastocystis hominis infections, one of prevalent parasites in Chile. In other countries, is also described a relationship between IBS and amebiasis and giardiasis. Both, characterized by a common mode of transmission through water as well as contaminated food. Because the high prevalence of parasitosis in our country it is necessary to expand the association studies to clarify the strength of the parasites ethiology in IBS.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Blastocystis Infections / complications
  • Blastocystis hominis / pathogenicity
  • Chile
  • Entamoeba histolytica / pathogenicity
  • Entamoebiasis / complications
  • Giardia lamblia / pathogenicity
  • Giardiasis / complications
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / complications*
  • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / physiopathology
  • Intestinal Mucosa / parasitology
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome / parasitology*
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome / physiopathology