Expert Hospital de Dénia, from the Ribera health group, warn about the dangers of SIBO self-diagnosis -Bacterial Growth in the Small Intestine-, so widespread in recent months on social networks.
SIBO, an acronym for Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth, is characterized by an abnormal increase in the bacterial population in the small intestine, especially bacteria not commonly found in that part of the digestive tract. According to Dr. Patricia Martín Rico, Chief of Internal Medicine of the Hospital de Dénia, «SIBO, more than a pathology in itself, usually has its origin in structural abnormalities of the intestine due to medical or post-surgical causes. It can also be the consequence of certain pathologies, such as diabetes or Crohn's disease, which make it difficult to move or empty and advance the food bolus, favoring its stagnation and bacterial overgrowth.
The symptom of true SIBO are diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, and nutrient malabsorption and are often associated with other digestive problems, such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease, diverticulosis, irritable bowel syndrome, or post-intestinal surgery. Therefore, experts warn that automatically attributing minor digestive symptoms to SIBO can lead to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment.
La Dr. Martin Rico alert about the growing trend in social media and the online information about SIBO, as responsible for a wide range of digestive symptoms, which has led many patients to self-diagnose, by purchasing tests online, and to self-medicate with antibiotic treatment.
In addition, he adds, "SIBO is not the source of all digestive problems, as a large number of similar symptoms can have a variety of causes." In this sense, the Dr. Martin Rico underlines the importance that, "given the symptoms described, the patient consults his Primary Care physician and thus avoids being manipulated and making erroneous decisions about his health."
