Researchers in the U.S. say that a long-acting antibiotic can help treat the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
The researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles say the antibiotic rifaximin reduced symptoms such as bloating, cramps, diarrhea and constipation for as long as 10 weeks after it was given in a 10-day course.
According to the National Institutes of Health, as many as 20 percent of American adults suffer from IBS which is also known as spastic colon.
IBS affects the part of the digestive tract that is responsible for stool production and impeded bowel functioning associated with the disorder can result in cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea and constipation.
At present there is no cure for IBS and the disorder is usually treated with a combination of dietary alterations (eliminating foods such as caffeine, alcohol, sodas, dairy and high-fat foods), medicines (laxatives, antispasmodics and antidepressants) and stress counseling.
In severe cases the condition can be quite disabling and adversely affects people's lives.
Although the exact cause is unknown it is thought to be related to bacteria that naturally live in the gut.
Patients with irritable bowel syndrome, have muscles in the colon which do not function normally and may spasm.