Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth or SIBO is a chronic bacterial infection of the small intestine. The infection is of bacteria that normally live in the gastrointestinal tract but have abnormally overgrown in a location not meant for so many of them. Symptoms are very similar to IBS: abdominal pain, abdominal bloating, constipation, diarrhea or both. Belching, nausea, and flatulence are also common, as well as nutrient deficiencies, chronic fatigue, and body pain. To know if SIBO is causing your unpleasant digestive symptoms, your naturopathic doctor will recommend a breath test for hydrogen and methane producing bacteria. If you test positive for one or both types of bacteria, appropriate doctor-prescribed treatment can rid you of the overgrowth and unwanted symptoms so you can feel well again.
