BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuSmall bowel bacterial overgrowthOvergrowth - intestinal bacteria; Bacterial overgrowth - intestine; Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth; SIBOSmall bowel bacterial overgrowth is a condition in which very large numbers of bacteria grow in the small intestine. Causes Most of the time, unlike the large intestine, the small intestine does not have a large number of bacteria. Excess bacteria in the small intestine may use up the nutrients needed by the body. As a result, a person may become malnourished. MalnourishedMalnutrition is the condition that occurs when your body does not get enough nutrients.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The breakdown of nutrients by the excess bacteria can also damage the lining of the small intestine. This can make it even harder for the body to absorb nutrients.Conditions that can lead to overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine include: Complications of diseases or surgery that create pouches or blockages in the small intestine. Crohn disease is one of these conditions. Crohn diseaseCrohn disease is a disease where parts of the digestive tract become inflamed. It most often involves the lower end of the small intestine and the be...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Diseases that lead to decreased movement of the small bowel, such as diabetes and scleroderma. DiabetesDiabetes is a long-term (chronic) disease in which the body cannot regulate the amount of sugar in the blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article SclerodermaScleroderma is a disease that involves the buildup of fibrous tissue in the skin and elsewhere in the body. It also damages the cells that line the ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Immunodeficiency, such as AIDS or immunoglobulin deficiency. AIDSHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). When a person becomes infected with HIV, the ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Short bowel syndrome caused by surgical removal of the small intestine. Short bowel syndromeShort bowel syndrome is a problem that occurs when part of the small intestine is missing or has been removed during surgery. Nutrients are not prop...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Small bowel diverticulosis, in which small, or, at times, large sacs occur in the wall of the intestine. These sacs allow too many bacteria to grow. Surgical procedures that create a loop of small intestine where excess bacteria can grow. An example is a Billroth II type of stomach removal (gastrectomy). GastrectomyGastrectomy is surgery to remove part or all of the stomach. If only part of the stomach is removed, it is called partial gastrectomyIf the whole sto...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Some cases of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Symptoms The most common symptoms are: Abdominal fullness Abdominal pain and cramps Bloating Diarrhea (most often watery) Gassiness Other symptoms may include: Fatty stool Weight loss Exams and Tests Your health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask about your medical history. Tests may include:Blood chemistry tests (such as albumin level) Complete blood count (CBC) CBCA complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Fecal fat test Fecal fat testThe fecal fat test measures the amount of fat in the stool. This can help gauge the percentage of dietary fat that the body does not absorb....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Small intestine endoscopy EndoscopyX-rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation, just like visible light. An x-ray machine sends individual x-ray waves through the body. The images...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Vitamin levels in the blood Small intestine biopsy or culture Special breath tests Treatment The goal is to treat the cause of the bacterial overgrowth. Treatment may include:Antibiotics Medicines that speed intestinal movement Intravenous (IV) fluids Nutrition given through a vein (total parenteral nutrition or TPN) in a malnourished personA lactose-free diet can be helpful. Possible Complications Severe cases lead to malnutrition. Other possible complications include:Dehydration DehydrationDehydration occurs when your body does not have as much water and fluids as it needs. Dehydration can be mild, moderate, or severe, based on how much...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Excess bleeding or other problems due to vitamin deficiency Liver disease Liver diseaseThe term "liver disease" applies to many conditions that stop the liver from working or prevent it from functioning well. Abdominal pain or swelling...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Osteomalacia or osteoporosis OsteomalaciaOsteomalacia is softening of the bones. It most often occurs because of a problem with vitamin D, which helps your body absorb calcium. Your body n...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article OsteoporosisOsteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break (fracture).ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Inflammation of the intestineOpen ReferencesReferencesLacy BE, DiBaise JK. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 105.Manolakis CS, Rutland TJ, Di Palma JA. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. In: McNally PR, ed. GI/Liver Secrets Plus. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 44.Rej A, Chew TS, Sanders DS. Gastroenterology. In: Penman ID, Ralston SH, Strachan MWJ, Hobson RP, eds. Davidson's Principles and Practice of Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 23.Sundaram M, Kim J. Short bowel syndrome. In: Yeo CJ, ed. Shackelford's Surgery of the Alimentary Tract. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 79.AllVideoImagesTogSmall intestine - illustration The small intestine is the portion of the digestive system most responsible for absorption of nutrients from food into the bloodstream. The pyloric sphincter governs the passage of partly digested food from the stomach into the duodenum. This short first portion of the small intestine is followed by the jejunum and the ileum. The ileocecal valve of the ileum passes digested material into the large intestine.Small intestineillustrationSmall intestine - illustration The small intestine is the portion of the digestive system most responsible for absorption of nutrients from food into the bloodstream. The pyloric sphincter governs the passage of partly digested food from the stomach into the duodenum. This short first portion of the small intestine is followed by the jejunum and the ileum. The ileocecal valve of the ileum passes digested material into the large intestine.Small intestineillustrationA Closer Look Ulcerative colitis - InDepth(In-Depth)Crohn disease - InDepth(In-Depth)Urinary tract infection - InDepth(In-Depth) Tests for Small bowel bacterial overgrowth Small intestine aspirate and cultureFecal fatD-xylose absorptionRelated Information Gastrectomy(Surgery)Vagina(Special Topic)Short bowel syndrome(Condition)Irritable bowel syndrome(Condition)Alcohol use and safe drinking(Special Topic)Intestinal obstruction and Ileus(Condition)Dehydration(Condition)Toxic megacolon(Condition)Liver disease(Condition)Osteoporosis(Condition)Osteoporosis - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 5/4/2022 Reviewed By: Michael M. Phillips, MD, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Small bowel bacterial overgrowthOvergrowth - intestinal bacteria; Bacterial overgrowth - intestine; Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth; SIBOSmall bowel bacterial overgrowth is a condition in which very large numbers of bacteria grow in the small intestine. Causes Most of the time, unlike the large intestine, the small intestine does not have a large number of bacteria. Excess bacteria in the small intestine may use up the nutrients needed by the body. As a result, a person may become malnourished. MalnourishedMalnutrition is the condition that occurs when your body does not get enough nutrients.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The breakdown of nutrients by the excess bacteria can also damage the lining of the small intestine. This can make it even harder for the body to absorb nutrients.Conditions that can lead to overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine include: Complications of diseases or surgery that create pouches or blockages in the small intestine. Crohn disease is one of these conditions. Crohn diseaseCrohn disease is a disease where parts of the digestive tract become inflamed. It most often involves the lower end of the small intestine and the be...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Diseases that lead to decreased movement of the small bowel, such as diabetes and scleroderma. DiabetesDiabetes is a long-term (chronic) disease in which the body cannot regulate the amount of sugar in the blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article SclerodermaScleroderma is a disease that involves the buildup of fibrous tissue in the skin and elsewhere in the body. It also damages the cells that line the ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Immunodeficiency, such as AIDS or immunoglobulin deficiency. AIDSHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). When a person becomes infected with HIV, the ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Short bowel syndrome caused by surgical removal of the small intestine. Short bowel syndromeShort bowel syndrome is a problem that occurs when part of the small intestine is missing or has been removed during surgery. Nutrients are not prop...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Small bowel diverticulosis, in which small, or, at times, large sacs occur in the wall of the intestine. These sacs allow too many bacteria to grow. Surgical procedures that create a loop of small intestine where excess bacteria can grow. An example is a Billroth II type of stomach removal (gastrectomy). GastrectomyGastrectomy is surgery to remove part or all of the stomach. If only part of the stomach is removed, it is called partial gastrectomyIf the whole sto...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Some cases of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Symptoms The most common symptoms are: Abdominal fullness Abdominal pain and cramps Bloating Diarrhea (most often watery) Gassiness Other symptoms may include: Fatty stool Weight loss Exams and Tests Your health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask about your medical history. Tests may include:Blood chemistry tests (such as albumin level) Complete blood count (CBC) CBCA complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Fecal fat test Fecal fat testThe fecal fat test measures the amount of fat in the stool. This can help gauge the percentage of dietary fat that the body does not absorb....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Small intestine endoscopy EndoscopyX-rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation, just like visible light. An x-ray machine sends individual x-ray waves through the body. The images...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Vitamin levels in the blood Small intestine biopsy or culture Special breath tests Treatment The goal is to treat the cause of the bacterial overgrowth. Treatment may include:Antibiotics Medicines that speed intestinal movement Intravenous (IV) fluids Nutrition given through a vein (total parenteral nutrition or TPN) in a malnourished personA lactose-free diet can be helpful. Possible Complications Severe cases lead to malnutrition. Other possible complications include:Dehydration DehydrationDehydration occurs when your body does not have as much water and fluids as it needs. Dehydration can be mild, moderate, or severe, based on how much...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Excess bleeding or other problems due to vitamin deficiency Liver disease Liver diseaseThe term "liver disease" applies to many conditions that stop the liver from working or prevent it from functioning well. Abdominal pain or swelling...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Osteomalacia or osteoporosis OsteomalaciaOsteomalacia is softening of the bones. It most often occurs because of a problem with vitamin D, which helps your body absorb calcium. Your body n...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article OsteoporosisOsteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break (fracture).ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Inflammation of the intestineOpen ReferencesReferencesLacy BE, DiBaise JK. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 105.Manolakis CS, Rutland TJ, Di Palma JA. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. In: McNally PR, ed. GI/Liver Secrets Plus. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 44.Rej A, Chew TS, Sanders DS. Gastroenterology. In: Penman ID, Ralston SH, Strachan MWJ, Hobson RP, eds. Davidson's Principles and Practice of Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 23.Sundaram M, Kim J. Short bowel syndrome. In: Yeo CJ, ed. Shackelford's Surgery of the Alimentary Tract. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 79.