A 20-year-old woman presents with intermittent abdominal pain, bloating, and alternating diarrhea and constipation for the past six months. There is no weight loss, and her physical examination is unremarkable. What could be the potential diagnoses and next steps?
The patient's symptoms could suggest Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), a functional gastrointestinal disorder. It's important to rule out other conditions such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Celiac disease, or lactose intolerance. If these are ruled out and the symptoms meet the Rome IV criteria for IBS, the diagnosis can be made clinically. Treatment would then involve dietary modifications, stress management, and sometimes medication.