Symptoms of SIBO
The symptoms of SIBO are generally vague and may overlap with that of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
These include:
- bloating
- flatulence
- abdominal pain
- poor appetite
- nausea
- diarrhoea
In severe cases, SIBO may cause weight loss and the disturbances may affect your mood, your sleeping pattern and work.
Diagnosing SIBO
Although clinical breath tests are available to help confirming the diagnosis of SIBO, there are significant confounding factors which may affect the test results.
Response to treatment may also varies widely from individual to individual thereby limiting their value in the overall management of the condition.
As many of the symptoms are not specific to SIBO further investigations may also be required at times to exclude other concurrent conditions.
Dr Quan
