INTRODUCTION: The functional disorders account for 50% of visits made in
Gastroenterology. The Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), said functional entity, affecting 10
to 20% of world population, mostly, young adults and women, having negative social,
economic, public health and, especially in quality of life of affected individuals.
OBJECTIVE: To identify the prevalence of IBS in internal medicine course at the Federal
University of Pará (UFPA) and clinical characteristics. METHODS: Prospective and
descriptive. Performed with 150 internal medicine course at UFPA, after approval of the
research ethics committee of the University Hospital João de Barros Barreto, who
volunteered to participate in the period May-June 2011. The results were released in
Microsoft Access and exported to Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. RESULTS: The
prevalence of IBS was found to be 17.5%, the majority (66.6%) belonging to the female.
Among the most prevalent subtypes of the syndrome, there was no statistical difference
between the form diarrhea (38%) and mixed (38%). Most respondents (66.6%) rated their
symptoms as moderate intensity. There was a strong association of worsening of symptoms
with ingestion of dairy products (61.9%), higher than described in the literature. Most
respondents (57%) had symptoms for more than five years and on a recurring
basis. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of IBS among internal medicine UFPA was higher
than described in the general population, affecting mostly women, with a predominance of
moderate intensity.
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