Most people’s gastrointestinal tract is calm, unobtrusive and efficient, but at least one in three people in the general population has a problem. Often the symptoms are mild and simple, and traditional medicines may be sufficient. A known number of people have recurrent or persistent symptoms that are significant enough to lead to a reduced quality of life, that are distressing, and for which there is no explanation.

Symptoms of diseases of the digestive tract

The symptoms of at least one fifth of patients who consult a gastroenterologist remain unexplained. The clinical problem of functional gastrointestinal symptoms cannot be ignored. Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDS) are common disorders characterized by persistent and recurrent gastrointestinal symptoms that most often occur due to normal GI tract motility and are not caused by structural (tumor or inflammation) or biochemical abnormalities.