Which term describes a functional bowel disorder with chronic abdominal pain and changes in bowel habit?

• A. Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• B. Gastroenteritis
• C. Hepatitis C
• D. Gastritis

Answer: (A)

This question focuses on identifying a functional bowel disorder characterized by chronic abdominal pain that is linked to changes in bowel habit. Irritable Bowel Syndrome fits this description because it is a functional condition—there is no detectable structural disease causing the symptoms. The hallmark is recurrent abdominal pain that occurs over months and is associated with changes in stool frequency or form, with many patients also noticing relief after defecation. IBS can be subtyped by the predominant stool pattern, such as constipation-predominant, diarrhea-predominant, or mixed.

Understanding the other options helps clarify why they don’t fit: gastroenteritis is an acute infection causing sudden diarrhea and/or vomiting with systemic signs; hepatitis C is a viral infection of the liver; gastritis is inflammation of the stomach lining. None of these describe a chronic, pain-associated, bowel-habit-changing syndrome without an identifiable organic cause, making Irritable Bowel Syndrome the best answer.