<unk>  is a disorder characterized most commonly by cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea.<unk>  causes a great deal of discomfort and distress, but it does not permanently harm the intestines and does not lead to a serious disease, such as cancer. Most people can control their symptoms with diet, stress management, and prescribed medications. For some people, however,<unk>  can be disabling. They may be unable to work, attend social events, or even travel short distances.
As many as 20 percent of the adult population, or one in five Americans, have symptoms of<unk> , making it one of the most common disorders diagnosed by doctors. It occurs more often in women than in men, and it begins before the age of 35 in about 50 percent of people.
Irritable bowel syndrome
Allergic colitis
Crohn's disease
Drug-induced colitis
Ulcerative colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease
Pseudomembranous colitis
Tropical sprue