The Manning Criteria is a diagnostic algorithm used in the diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome is a diagnosis of exclusion. It is a functional bowel disorder characterized by chronic abdominal pain, discomfort, bloating, and alteration of bowel habits in the absence of any detectable organic cause. In some cases, the symptoms are relieved by bowel movements...

. The criteria consists of a list of questions the physician can ask the patient. The answers are used in a process to produce a diagnostic decision regarding whether the patient can be considered to have Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

The Manning Criteria has been compared with other diagnostic algorithms for Irritable Bowel Syndrome, such as the Rome I Criteria

Rome process

The "Rome process" is an international effort to create scientific data to help in the diagnosis and treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders, , such as irritable bowel syndrome, functional dyspepsia and rumination syndrome...

, the Rome II Process

Rome process

The "Rome process" is an international effort to create scientific data to help in the diagnosis and treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders, , such as irritable bowel syndrome, functional dyspepsia and rumination syndrome...

, the Kruis Criteria.

The Manning Criteria are:

1. Onset of pain linked to more frequent bowel movements
2. Looser stools associated with onset of pain
3. Pain relieved by passage of stool
4. Noticeable abdominal bloating
5. Sensation of incomplete evacuation more than 25% of the time
6. Diarrhea with mucus more than 25% of the time