Functional colonic disease

Overview
Functional colonic disease (or functional bowel disorder) refers to a group of bowel disorders which are characterised by chronic abdominal complaints without a structural or biochemical cause that could explain symptoms.

Examples
Functional bowel disorders include, among others:


 * Functional dyspepsia
 * Non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP)
 * Chronic abdominal pain
 * Functional constipation
 * Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Criteria
The Rome process has helped to define the functional gastrointestinal disorders. Successively, the Rome I, Rome II and the Rome III meetings have proposed a consensual classification system and terminology, as recommended by the Rome Coordinating Committee.