Dysbacteriosis: causes, symptoms, treatment

Are you suffering from constant diarrhea and constipation? Does your stomach regularly experience hurricanes and bloating? Do you have an unpleasant odor in your mouth? Stomach ache? It is likely that you have all the signs of dysbiosis. This illness can be disguised as a simple digestive disorder, or attributed to poor nutrition, and in the meantime the body tearfully asks for help. In this article, we will look at the main signs and causes of dysbiosis, and also tell you how to treat this disease. 

What is dysbiosis

Normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract is simply impossible without microorganisms that live in the intestines. When the composition of these components of the flora changes, e.g. the balance of beneficial and harmful microorganisms is disrupted (there are significantly fewer beneficial ones and more harmful ones), this condition is called dysbacteriosis. This has a very bad effect on the state of the digestive system and weakens the immune system.

The intestines are inhabited by neutral, beneficial and harmful microbes. Bacteroides, lactobacilli and bifidobacteria are our friends, they promote proper digestion, protect the body from allergies, keep immunity at a high level and even seriously reduce the likelihood of cancer. They also keep bad bacteria under their control: staphylococci, protea, candida, etc. When the bad “troops” take over the good ones and begin to manage as they please, dysbacteriosis develops. However, this is not an independent disease and it cannot develop just like that out of nowhere. Dysbacteriosis appears as a symptom due to various factors. Let's look at what can lead to the development of the disease.

Causes of dysbiosis

There are many reasons why such an internal imbalance can develop. Among them:

• Oncological diseases and diabetes mellitus.
• Old age can provoke disruption of the intestinal microflora, which is caused by age-related changes.
• Impaired intestinal motility.
• Disturbed metabolism, diseases of the endocrine system, weakened immune system.
• Infection of the body by parasites and pathogenic microorganisms.
• In some cases, dysbiosis can be triggered by acclimatization.
• Diseases of the digestive system: ulcers, gastritis, pancreatitis, etc.
• Infectious lesions of the intestines.
• Psychological problems can also be a reason for the development of the disease. Constant stress and strong emotional shocks cause so-called stress dysbiosis.
• Poor nutrition. Regularly eating unhealthy foods that contain preservatives and chemical additives, eating fast food, abruptly changing your usual diet - all this and similar things have a very bad effect on intestinal health.
• While taking certain medications, especially antibiotics, iatrogenic dysbiosis develops. The same type of disease appears after surgery.

Quite healthy people who did not find themselves in the above list can experience all the “beauty” of dysbiosis. In such cases, you need to look for reasons in your professional activities, as well as in sudden changes in diet.

Symptoms of dysbiosis

All the symptoms that appear during dysbacteriosis revolve around metabolic disorders and a decrease in the body’s protective functions. The most striking signs of a lack of beneficial bacteria in the intestines are:

• diarrhea, very rare, but constipation also occurs;
• flatulence (bloating);
• belching;
• unpleasant taste in the mouth;
• pain in the abdomen.

The above symptoms also include the appearance of particles of undigested food in the stool, anemia, fatigue, sleep problems, problems with appetite, feeling of nausea. Due to constant diarrhea, defecation may become painful, anal fissures and itching may appear. Pain during the development of dysbacteriosis can be different:

• Similar to contractions. In the lower abdomen, intestinal spasms are tormented - they can increase and decrease with its emptying.
• Distensional. They appear when pressure in the intestines increases. After the gases are released and emptied, the pressure decreases and the pain goes away.
• Pain due to inflammatory processes in the lymph nodes. The source of pain is in the left area of ​​the abdomen just above the navel. After bowel movement, the pain may subside.

In the vast majority of cases, in patients with dysbiosis, food intake can be detected allergies. Hypersensitivity can manifest itself in the form of itching, joint problems and even Quincke's edema. A person’s immunity weakens, which makes him vulnerable to infectious lesions - the lungs, bronchi and other organs suffer.

The listed symptoms should persist for some time, only in this case you should be wary and visit a specialist. If bloating and flatulence are observed once, this may indicate that something wrong was eaten the day before, and not about dysbiosis. If you feel unwell for a long time, you should undergo appropriate diagnostics.

Dysbacteriosis in adults

The main stages of the disease that can be noted in adults:

• a slight increase in the amount of pathogenic flora and a slight decrease in the number of beneficial microorganisms in the intestines - at this stage, symptoms are often completely absent, or are expressed so weakly that the person does not attach serious importance to his condition;
• a significant decrease in the number of beneficial microorganisms and an increase in pathogenic microflora - at this stage a person begins to worry about frequent diarrhea, constipation and bloating;
• active development of harmful microflora leads to inflammatory processes in the intestinal mucosa;
• the last stage, the most severe, when beneficial bacteria in the intestines are almost completely absent, and pathogenic microorganisms operate at full capacity.

Treatment of dysbiosis in adults occurs in several stages. First, it is necessary to eliminate the cause that led to the development of harmful microorganisms - cure the disease, eliminate poisoning, or stop taking medications that negatively affect the intestinal microflora. At this stage, the specialist works with the patient individually. Next, absorbents, the same activated carbon or other similar drugs are prescribed. Next, probiotics and prebiotics are prescribed. Further actions are aimed at normalizing intestinal function and reinforcing the result with a course of immunomodulators.

In addition to drug treatment, a person must also worry about the quality of his diet, otherwise the treatment will not have the desired effect. A diet for dysbiosis involves the complete exclusion from the diet of foods that cause bloating, such foods include grapes, melon, soda, legumes, alcohol, etc. It is necessary to reduce the amount of apples consumed.

But what is welcome in the diet is boiled meat, sour milk, gray bread, herbs, onions, and fresh berries. In this case, you need to eat in small portions, but more often, about seven times a day, under no circumstances overeating or starving. The doctor sets a more detailed diet for the patient, based on the stage of the disease and individual indicators. A little later we will touch on the topic of how dysbiosis can be treated using traditional methods, without the use of medications.

Dysbacteriosis in children

Risk factors that can lead to the development of dysbiosis in children are delayed breastfeeding, replacement of natural feeding with artificial formulas, improper and inadequate nutrition. However, as in adults, dysbiosis in children often develops as a symptom of another illness. Therefore, provocateurs of intestinal problems can be:

• impaired intestinal motility, which appears for various reasons;
• diseases that disrupt the absorption process in the intestines;
• allergic reactions;
• infectious diseases;
• consequences of radiation;
• consequence of surgical interventions;
• chronic diseases of the intestines and stomach;
• long-term, and in some cases even short-term use of antibiotics and other medications.

As in adults, during the treatment process it is important to eliminate the cause that led to the development of dysbiosis. Only then are forces directed to eliminate the consequences. For infants, the doctor may prescribe a change in formula; for older children, you will have to adhere to some restrictions in the diet. Under no circumstances should you self-medicate childhood dysbiosis, as this can lead to even bigger problems. Don't joke with your kids' health!

Analysis for dysbacteriosis

To diagnose the disease, specialists use several laboratory techniques, including: analysis of aspirate, stool culture, analysis of biopsy material from the jejunum, examination of scrapings. To diagnose dysbiosis and make a diagnosis, you need to contact a gastroenterologist.

Treatment of dysbiosis

Drug treatment should only be prescribed by a doctor. If there is no opportunity to consult a specialist, or you are a voluntary supporter of traditional medicine, then we offer you effective methods of treating dysbiosis without the use of pills. Remember, in order for the treatment to give positive results, you also need to follow a proper diet and avoid junk food.

• A very, very effective method that helps cure dysbiosis in almost one day! The method has not been tested by a single person and such miraculous properties of the drink have been confirmed in practice by cured dysbacteriosis. Everything is prepared very simply: heat half a liter of water and add a large spoonful of sugar and natural honey, add two grams of yeast. Mix everything and leave to brew for an hour in a warm place, but no longer (!). The mash obtained during this time should be drunk at once, an hour before the meal. That's it, very simple and amazingly effective.
• For children, you can use the following method. Take kefir from the dairy kitchen. Be sure to use it in the children's kitchen, and not in the store, since in the first case the product undergoes a thorough check. In the evening, when the child is fed, washed and getting ready for bed, heat 80 grams of the prepared product until it curls. From the resulting composition you need to make an enema overnight. In general, as a rule, one procedure is enough. Before the procedure, be sure to carefully prepare the instruments so that they are clean and sterile. This method can also be used by adults, only the portion of kefir is slightly larger - 150-180 g.
• Dysbacteriosis is well treated with fermented milk whey. It's easy to prepare - place kefir in hot water and leave for a while. The composition will begin to divide into cottage cheese and whey. This is precisely the serum that is an excellent remedy for the treatment of dysbiosis.
• The disease is eliminated very quickly with garlic curdled milk; a visible and tangible result is noticeable within a few days. A liter of natural milk needs to be boiled and cooled. Next, ferment the milk with brown bread crusts; you should allow 24 hours for this. Afterwards you need to throw in a few crusts of grated garlic. The curdled milk is ready for use; it should be stored in the refrigerator.
• Strawberries are very beneficial for intestinal health. This berry promotes the proliferation of beneficial flora in the intestines, while some elements that this berry is rich in have a detrimental effect on pathogenic microorganisms. The treatment process is very simple and tasty. For ten days in the morning on an empty stomach you need to eat a glass of strawberries.
• 300 g of peeled Jerusalem artichoke should be cut into cubes and immersed in a boiling glass of milk, diluted with the same amount of water. Boil over low heat until done. After this, pour the milk into another container and boil again. Add a large spoonful of wheat flour, previously sautéed in butter. Boil until thick. Pour the prepared “sauce” over the Jerusalem artichokes and stir so that the roots do not bruise. You can add salt and herbs to taste.
• Garlic shows amazing results. An hour before meals you need to eat a clove of garlic. If the smell puts you off or you don’t want to be fragrant with a specific aroma, you can cut the garlic into circles and drink it like tablets with milk or water. Before going to bed, after dinner, you should also consume 2-3 cloves.

Prevention of dysbacteriosis

Since dysbiosis manifests itself in most cases as a symptom of another disease, primary prevention should focus on preventing diseases of the internal organs of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as protect the body from diseases that require long-term treatment with potent drugs, especially antibiotics. In particular, such treatment is contraindicated for pregnant women, as this can lead to the baby being born with dysbacteriosis. The expectant mother should be especially careful about her health, as all this will affect the health and immunity of the baby.

Under no circumstances should you ever take medications for nothing. Any cold can be cured with traditional medicine recipes, and tablets can be used only in the most extreme cases and only with the mandatory prescription of a competent doctor. Pills are not candies; they cannot be taken for any reason, for any kind of prevention, and especially those prescribed to oneself or on the advice of friends.

Another very important factor in the prevention of dysbiosis is the organization of a proper and balanced diet. Minimize, or better yet avoid, food served at fast food restaurants. Do not buy fast food: chips, soda and other chemicals. Carefully read the ingredients of what you are going to buy or eat - the abundance of dyes, preservatives and other chemicals does not have the best effect on intestinal health. Do not buy fruits and vegetables that look too perfect, like from a picture - there is nothing healthy in such specimens, but they contain more than enough nitrates, pesticides and nitrites. Their harm is not immediately noticeable, but harmful components accumulate in the body, and when the amount reaches the limit, everything is expressed in a bunch of sores.

Minimize the number of bad habits and adopt a healthy lifestyle. Try to eat only real food, preferring stewing and steaming. Less dry food and more soups, less stress and more joy - then you will avoid not only colds with dysbacteriosis, but also more serious illnesses!