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The functional gastrointestinal disorders.

Rome Criteria

In the past, FGDs were considered to be diagnoses of exclusion, meaning that they could only be diagnosed afterorganic(identifiable) disease was ruled out. However, back in 1988, a group of researchers and healthcare providers met to devise strict criteria for the diagnosis of the various FGDs. These criteria are now known as the Rome Criteria. The fourth revision came out in 2016.

Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders

Functional Esophageal Disorders

Functional Gastroduodenal Disorders

Functional Bowel Disorders

Functional Abdominal Pain Syndrome

Functional Gallbladder and Sphincter of Oddi Disorders

Functional Anorectal Disorders

Childhood Functional GI Disorders: Infant/Toddler

Childhood Functional GI Disorders: Child/Adolescent

Diagnosis of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders

Although the Rome criteria allow the diagnosis of FGDs to be symptom-based, your healthcare provider may still want to run some standard diagnostic tests to rule out other diseases or to look for structural problems that are resulting in your symptoms.

Treatment of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders

Although no visible signs of disease or structural problems are identified as causing the symptoms of FGDs, this does not mean that these disorders are not real, nor does it mean that they are not treatable. If you suspect you have or have been diagnosed with an FGD, it will be essential to work with your healthcare provider on a working treatment plan. Treatment options may include:

5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Black CJ, Drossman DA, Talley NJ, Ruddy J, Ford AC.Functional gastrointestinal disorders: advances in understanding and management.The Lancet. 2020 Oct;396(10263):1664-1674. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)32115-2Schmulson MJ, Drossman DA.What is new in Rome IV.J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2017 Apr;23(2):151-163. doi:10.5056/jnm16214Sperber A, Bangdiwala S, Drossman D, et al.Worldwide prevalence and burden of functional gastrointestinal disorders, results of Rome Foundation global study.Gastroenterology. 2021 Apr;160(1):99-114. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2020.04.014Hyams J, Di Lorenzo C, Saps M, Shulman R, Staiano A, van Tilburg M.Childhood functional gastrointestinal disorders: child/adolescent.Gastroenterology. 2016 May;150(6):1456-1468. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2016.02.015Fikree A, Byrne P.Management of functional gastrointestinal disorders.Clin Med. 2021 Jan;21(1):44-52. doi:10.7861/clinmed.2020-0980Additional Reading"Rome III Diagnostic Criteria For Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders"Drossman, D. “The Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders and the Rome III Process"Gastroenterology2006 130:1377-1390.

5 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Black CJ, Drossman DA, Talley NJ, Ruddy J, Ford AC.Functional gastrointestinal disorders: advances in understanding and management.The Lancet. 2020 Oct;396(10263):1664-1674. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)32115-2Schmulson MJ, Drossman DA.What is new in Rome IV.J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2017 Apr;23(2):151-163. doi:10.5056/jnm16214Sperber A, Bangdiwala S, Drossman D, et al.Worldwide prevalence and burden of functional gastrointestinal disorders, results of Rome Foundation global study.Gastroenterology. 2021 Apr;160(1):99-114. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2020.04.014Hyams J, Di Lorenzo C, Saps M, Shulman R, Staiano A, van Tilburg M.Childhood functional gastrointestinal disorders: child/adolescent.Gastroenterology. 2016 May;150(6):1456-1468. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2016.02.015Fikree A, Byrne P.Management of functional gastrointestinal disorders.Clin Med. 2021 Jan;21(1):44-52. doi:10.7861/clinmed.2020-0980Additional Reading"Rome III Diagnostic Criteria For Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders"Drossman, D. “The Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders and the Rome III Process"Gastroenterology2006 130:1377-1390.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Black CJ, Drossman DA, Talley NJ, Ruddy J, Ford AC.Functional gastrointestinal disorders: advances in understanding and management.The Lancet. 2020 Oct;396(10263):1664-1674. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)32115-2Schmulson MJ, Drossman DA.What is new in Rome IV.J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2017 Apr;23(2):151-163. doi:10.5056/jnm16214Sperber A, Bangdiwala S, Drossman D, et al.Worldwide prevalence and burden of functional gastrointestinal disorders, results of Rome Foundation global study.Gastroenterology. 2021 Apr;160(1):99-114. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2020.04.014Hyams J, Di Lorenzo C, Saps M, Shulman R, Staiano A, van Tilburg M.Childhood functional gastrointestinal disorders: child/adolescent.Gastroenterology. 2016 May;150(6):1456-1468. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2016.02.015Fikree A, Byrne P.Management of functional gastrointestinal disorders.Clin Med. 2021 Jan;21(1):44-52. doi:10.7861/clinmed.2020-0980

Black CJ, Drossman DA, Talley NJ, Ruddy J, Ford AC.Functional gastrointestinal disorders: advances in understanding and management.The Lancet. 2020 Oct;396(10263):1664-1674. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)32115-2

Schmulson MJ, Drossman DA.What is new in Rome IV.J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2017 Apr;23(2):151-163. doi:10.5056/jnm16214

Sperber A, Bangdiwala S, Drossman D, et al.Worldwide prevalence and burden of functional gastrointestinal disorders, results of Rome Foundation global study.Gastroenterology. 2021 Apr;160(1):99-114. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2020.04.014

Hyams J, Di Lorenzo C, Saps M, Shulman R, Staiano A, van Tilburg M.Childhood functional gastrointestinal disorders: child/adolescent.Gastroenterology. 2016 May;150(6):1456-1468. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2016.02.015

Fikree A, Byrne P.Management of functional gastrointestinal disorders.Clin Med. 2021 Jan;21(1):44-52. doi:10.7861/clinmed.2020-0980

“Rome III Diagnostic Criteria For Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders"Drossman, D. “The Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders and the Rome III Process"Gastroenterology2006 130:1377-1390.

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