World IBS Day 2026: Making irritable bowel syndrome visible

On 19 April 2026, → World IBS Day – initiated by the patient self-help organisation ‘IBS Patient Support Group’ – will, for the seventh time, draw attention to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) – one of the most common yet often underestimated conditions in the field of gastroenterology.

Relevance of IBS:
Around 10% of the world’s population is affected. Symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation often lead to a significant reduction in quality of life.

IBS: a disorder of the gut-brain axis:
As part of the Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction (DGBI), irritable bowel syndrome exemplifies the close interconnection between the enteric nervous system, the microbiome, immunology and central nervous system processes.

Care requires evidence and understanding:
Despite high prevalence, many sufferers continue to report that their symptoms are not adequately recognised. This makes structured diagnosis, guideline-based treatment and interdisciplinary care all the more important.

The DGNM’s commitment:
The German Society for Neurogastroenterology and Motility (DGNM) is actively committed to evidence-based care for irritable bowel syndrome.
This includes in particular:
* participation in national and international guideline projects,
* the promotion of translational research on the gut-brain axis,
* as well as continuing education and training programmes for quality-assured clinical practice.

Support for those affected – MAGDA:
Through the MAGDA (Gastrointestinal Forum) patient forum, the DGNM provides a central platform for clear, scientifically sound information and events for those affected:
Link to the MAGDA forum → https://www.magendarm-forum.de/reizdarmsyndrom.html

Our appeal:
Take irritable bowel syndrome seriously, share knowledge and work together to improve care.