Abnormal intestinal flora
With the background knowledge that the human intestinal flora takes over many important functions, it is understandable that an imbalance of bacterial colonization and a pathological intestinal flora have effects on health. Here, either too high or too low a colonisation, or even an incorrect composition can be the reason for a change in the intestinal flora. Symptoms of a pathological intestinal flora are, for example, flatulence, abdominal pain or a higher susceptibility to infections.
Food intolerances can also occur. In order to check for an incorrect colonisation of the small intestine, the lactulose H2 breath test is used. Stool analyses can also be used to clarify the colonisation status of the colon.
The most pronounced and frequent changes in the intestinal flora in a pathological direction occur through antibiotic therapy. This not only kills the pathogens against which the antibiotic is used, but also the naturally occurring bacteria of the intestinal flora. As a result of the antibiotic therapy, antibiotic-associated diarrhoea can occur.
In most cases, however, the balance of the intestinal flora is restored after a few weeks. Another complication caused by antibiotic therapy can be “pseudomembranous colitis“. In this case, the intestinal flora is severely damaged by antibiotics and the bacterium “Clostridium difficile” has the opportunity to multiply extremely due to the newly gained space, which leads to an inflammation of the intestine.
A stool transplantation is a frequent therapy method in this case. Apart from a responsible antibiotic therapy, you should also pay attention to your diet. Fast food and frozen foods are not conducive to the development and maintenance of a natural intestinal flora and should therefore not be consumed too much.
If the intestines are not properly colonised, the most common symptoms are stomach ache and flatulence. This can be explained by the fact that the bacteria in the intestine have an important function in digesting food. If the digestion is disturbed, the food is decomposed more often.
The result is flatulence. In the case of pathological colonisation of the intestine, such as “pseudomembranous colitis” caused by Clostridium difficile, abdominal cramps and diarrhoea are the main causes. In addition, the stool of the diseased is increasingly indicated as characteristically malodorous.
Further symptoms of a pathological colonisation of the intestine can be differentiated between a disturbed small intestine and large intestine flora. If the disturbance exists in the small intestine, the bloated abdomen recedes without the discharge of gases. If there is a disturbance in the large intestine, the bulging abdomen is accompanied by the discharge of intestinal gases.
- Chronic diarrhoea,
- Fatty stools
- And be the formation of a distended abdomen. The key to combating a pathological intestinal flora with an imbalance or a mis-colonisation of the bacteria is also nutrition. An easily digestible food, which is at the same time low in fibre and fat, protects the pre-damaged intestinal mucosa and provides little nutrients for the pathological intestinal flora. In addition, it is important to use antibiotics responsibly in order to avoid an imbalance of the intestinal flora in the first place. Before each administration of antibiotics, the necessity should be justified and it should be kept in mind that the administration of antibiotics has damaging effects on the intestine and the natural intestinal flora.
