Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract often lead to the development of ma lnutrition. Digestive Disease Center staff provides a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services to help remedy this problem.
Small Bowel Bacterial Overgrowth
A healthy small intestine maintains a constant balance of bacteria to ensure normal digestive functioning. Exposure to antibiotics, decreased stomach acid secretion, diminished digestive enzyme production, gastrointestinal obstructions, radiation therapy, or motility disorders alter the bowel’s environment by reducing the number of protective bacteria. As a consequence, some bacteria normally kept in check by the protective bacteria are allowed to grow without restraint. This leads to a condition known as Small Bowel Bacterial Overgrowth (SBBO) which, if left untreated, can lead to nutrient malabsorption with malnutrition.
SymptomsSymptoms include bloating, gas, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
Risk FactorsThe elderly are at an increased risk of developing SBBO due to decreased incidence in gastric acid production and increased occurrence of small bowel diverticula. Patients who have undergone surgery that alters the stomach and beginning of the small bowel are also at risk for developing this condition.
TreatmentTreatment of SBBO is aimed at restoring normal gut flora with proper antibiotic therapy, which should lead to a decrease in symptoms and improvement in nutritional health. In a few individuals, surgical treatment can be used to correct the structural abnormality that leads to SBBO; however, under most circumstances, it is not a curable condition and requires ongoing monitoring with therapy
A healthy small intestine maintains a constant balance of bacteria to ensure normal digestive functioning. Exposure to antibiotics, decreased stomach acid secretion, diminished digestive enzyme production, gastrointestinal obstructions, radiation therapy, or motility disorders alter the bowel’s environment by reducing the number of protective bacteria. As a consequence, some bacteria normally kept in check by the protective bacteria are allowed to grow without restraint. This leads to a condition known as Small Bowel Bacterial Overgrowth (SBBO) which, if left untreated, can lead to nutrient malabsorption with malnutrition.
SymptomsSymptoms include bloating, gas, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
Risk FactorsThe elderly are at an increased risk of developing SBBO due to decreased incidence in gastric acid production and increased occurrence of small bowel diverticula. Patients who have undergone surgery that alters the stomach and beginning of the small bowel are also at risk for developing this condition.
TreatmentTreatment of SBBO is aimed at restoring normal gut flora with proper antibiotic therapy, which should lead to a decrease in symptoms and improvement in nutritional health. In a few individuals, surgical treatment can be used to correct the structural abnormality that leads to SBBO; however, under most circumstances, it is not a curable condition and requires ongoing monitoring with therapy
