Mucosal Inflamation & Emotional Stress

Gastrointestinal infection with its consequent mucosal inflammation seems to play a role in the etiology of IBS in a subset of patients, although there is some doubt that this condition is of real importance. Recent observations suggest that substantially less than 25% of patients develop "Post-infectious" IBS.

Pathophysiology

IBS is actually a heterogeneous combination of different factors as well as other mechanisms that remain to be elucidated. 

IBS probably represents the common clinical expression of multiple potential pathophysiologic factors. Potential factors that contribute to IBS include a genetic predisposition to the condition, disturbed central nervous system pain processing and visceral hypersensitivity, mucosal inflammation, abnormal colonic motility and emotional stress.