This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Read more.
Dr Sarmed Sami
Digestive Health UK
What is small intestinal bacterial overgrowth(SIBO)?
Dr Sarmed Sami explains that small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) occurs when there is an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine, and is treated with antibiotics.
Transcript
SIBO is an acronym that stands for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. And what it really means, is that you have about six metres of what we call the small intestine and that is part of your guts. You have the gullet, stomach and then the smaller intestine, 6 metres, and then you have the large bowel. And your small intestine doesn't really usually contain a lot of bacteria. But in certain patients, we see that there is an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine. And of course, then those bacteria break down certain foods and release gases, and therefore patients with SIBO or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, typically complain of bloating and feeling sick and some of them have discomfort after eating. And the treatment for it is typically to go onto antibiotics. So that's what SIBO is.