The gut system contains good and bad bacteria. The body needs good strains of bacteria to run its digestive, nervous, and immune systems. On the other hand, bad bacteria inhibit the performance of the good ones. However, there is still a slight change in understanding how the bacterial composition should impact the body.

A recent study made an interesting discovery involving small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). It is a condition that occurs when the small intestine accommodates excessive bacteria, leading to bloating, diarrhea, constipation, or malnutrition. A person can be having SIBO, but a doctor may diagnose them with IBS since both conditions have almost the same symptoms. By understanding how SIBO develops, doctors will not have a problem distinguishing between the two. Here are some common misconceptions about SIBO you probably did not know:

1.     SIBO is a rare condition

When a child has a stomach problem, doctors administer medications to relieve the pain and prevent future occurrences. That is an indication that most conventional doctors think of as a rare disease. However, studies suggest that SIBO could be an aggravating factor for most IBS cases. A patient might be having symptoms pointing to IBS while, in the real sense, they could be battling SIBO. Unless a doctor conducts SIBO breath testing or any other advanced testing methods, there is no way to tell if the patient has the condition.

2.     SIBO indicates a gut system infection

Most parents with kids experiencing SIBO symptoms think of seeing a doctor because SIBO is an infection. It is perfectly okay to think that way simply because infections cause most digestive problems. However, SIBO is a reflection of misplaced bacteria. When good bacteria found in the large intestine shift to the small intestine, causing an overgrowth. The only way to learn more about how appropriate treatment plans facilitate alterations of the bacteria from the small intestine works is by seeing a gastroenterologist.

3.     A good diet plan can treat SIBO

When looking for information about SIBO on the Google search engine, the first thing you notice are various websites recommending diet plans that treat or prevent SIBO. Each article or blog emphasizes the need to eliminate specific meals that are likely to trigger SIBO. Interestingly, SIBO-related diets will not shift bacteria already found in the small intestine. Even if the diet deprives bacteria of their food source, they will remain idle until the ideal time to strike comes. However, this option can be beneficial to people who cannot endure a full treatment plan.

4.     There is no cure for SIBO

It is one thing to learn of a condition while discovering that there is no cure is another. One thing people diagnosed with SIBO worry about is the likelihood of reoccurrence even after taking countless antibiotics. A person with SIBO is more likely to give up on medications just because it keeps coming back. However, the successful treatment for SIBO is an ongoing process.

Sometimes, a patient may be having a predisposing factor that may make it challenging to treat SIBO, leading to a high risk for recurrence. However, advanced treatment plans for SIBO can address the underlying causes to prevent a recurrence.

5.     Probiotics can make SIBO go away

Probiotics play a significant role in encouraging good bacterial growth and not relocating bacteria already available in the small intestine. While taking probiotics can boost your gut health, they might worsen SIBO symptoms if bacteria are already available in the small intestine. In such a case, it would be best to wait until the later stages of treatment before introducing good bacteria to the diet. Alternatively, you can link up with a gastroenterologist to advise you on what type of meals to avoid.

As a parent of a kid with recurring digestive problems, it is essential to establish if SIBO or IBS is the main culprit. By demystifying the myths around SIBO, you will know what type of specialist to see. Remember, a comprehensive treatment plan can make your child’s stomach go away, but that can only work if you abide by a specialist’s instructions. After completing treatment, it would be best to avoid any meals that aggravate your child’s IBS symptoms.