Rome process

The Rome criteria, which are also known as Rome III consensus criteria play an important role in the diagnosis of functional disorders of the human digestive system. They are defined according to the Delphi method by experts in the field of gastroenterology in the context of a consensus conference in Rome.

The first, so-called Rome I criteria were published in 1992. In 1998 a international meeting of specialists in the field of gastroenterology took place in Rome. At this meeting, among other things, definitions and diagnostic criteria for functional dyspepsia ( stomach irritation ) and irritable bowel syndrome were defined, which were referred to as the Rome II criteria. In 2006, the criteria were re-adjusted to current research and called Rome III criteria.

Since 2006, the Rome III criteria, the new rules for the diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome, for example. The period of abdominal pain or discomfort has been shortened to a minimum of three days per month in the last three months to a start months before at least six, at least two other characters, such as improvement by defecation, beginning with change in stool frequency, beginning with change of stool consistency and appearance. There are also new sub-groups and categories of irritable bowel syndrome.