A 40-year-old woman presents with a 6-month history of alternating diarrhoea and constipation with abdominal pain relieved by defaecation. She reports...

Question

A 40-year-old woman presents with a 6-month history of alternating diarrhoea and constipation with abdominal pain relieved by defaecation. She reports passing mucus but no blood. She is worried about bowel cancer. She has no weight loss and blood tests are normal. What is the most appropriate initial management?

Accepted Answer

Reassurance, dietary advice and trial of antispasmodics

Answer

Urgent two-week wait referral for colonoscopy

Answer

Start long-term opioid analgesia

Answer

Empirical steroids for possible inflammatory bowel disease

Answer

Immediate CT abdomen and pelvis

uk-plab-1 MCQ (SBA): Irritable bowel syndrome management