Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Digestive Disorders
Number of Conditions: 1
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)
Specialty: Gastrointestinal
Category: Small Intestine Disorders
Sub-category: Digestive Disorders
Symptoms:
bloating; diarrhea; abdominal pain; flatulence; unintended weight loss; malnutrition symptoms like fatigue and anemia
Root Cause:
Excessive growth of bacteria in the small intestine, disrupting normal digestion and nutrient absorption. Often linked to motility disorders, structural abnormalities, or changes in gut flora.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosed using breath tests (e.g., hydrogen/methane levels) or small bowel aspirate cultures.
Treatment:
Treated with dietary changes, probiotics, and antibiotics such as rifaximin or metronidazole.
Medications:
Antibiotics like rifaximin or metronidazole are commonly prescribed to reduce bacterial overgrowth. Prokinetics (e.g., erythromycin or prucalopride ) may be used to improve motility, and nutritional supplements are given for deficiencies.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Exact prevalence is unknown but more common in individuals with conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diabetes, or previous gastrointestinal surgery.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Conditions that impair small intestinal motility (e.g., scleroderma, diabetes), anatomical abnormalities (e.g., diverticula), or previous surgery (e.g., gastric bypass).
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with appropriate treatment; relapses are common if the underlying condition isn’t addressed.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Chronic malnutrition, fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies (A, D, E, K), osteoporosis, and small intestine damage if left untreated.