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Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, also known as SIBO, is the overgrowth of the bad bacteria in the small intestine. It is actually an increasingly common condition and it tends to occur in certain scenarios. For instance, if you have had bowel surgeries or other medical conditions which slow the flow of digestive material, particularly through the small intestine, this can breed fermentation of the bad bacteria and therefore cause SIBO and SIBO-like symptoms. There are specific surgeries that are often linked to SIBO. These include gastric bypass in which a blind limb is actually formed with no outlet. And this creates like a reservoir or a space for the bacteria to occur. Other bowel disease, such as Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticular disease of the small intestine, as well as diabetes or scleroderma are also examples of medical conditions in which SIBO can also be seen. Clinically, we tend to see symptoms of SIBO or SIBO occur when lots of antibiotics have been used or after a significant or severe gastrointestinal infection.
