Diagnosing and managing irritable bowel syndrome with predominant diarrhoea in clinical practice: online survey among gastroenterologists and general practitioners.

In Belgium, abdominal pain or discomfort are equivalent cardinal symptoms when diagnosing IBS. During the further diagnostic and therapeutic approach most physicians order only limited additional non-invasive testing. Spasmolytics and dietary interventions are favoured in first-line. Upon failure, only GE prescribe neuromodulators, while GP opt for referral. These findings are consistent with the general principles and recommendations outlined in the recently published Belgian guideline for IBS.