Other causes
Besides the rather harmless causes of flatulence, there are also some serious diseases that should be excluded when looking for the cause. Most notably, malignant changes in the intestine should be mentioned. Any change in stool habits (including newly occurring flatulence), the cause of which is not known, can also be caused by a colon carcinoma.
It is important to perform a colonoscopy, if no directional cause can be found. Another cause of severe flatulence can also be fungi that have settled in the intestine. An accompanying strong malodorous smell is often characteristic.
In this case a pathogen determination can be carried out in the laboratory. Whether an appropriate fungal treatment should then be carried out is controversially discussed. A treatment is expensive and lengthy and sometimes unsuccessful.
Often fungi in the intestine are not unusual, but they do not cause any complaints. First of all, other causes of flatulence must be ruled out before starting an intestinal treatment. Often an intestinal infestation of fungi in patients is brought into the focus of the treatment by alternative practitioners, whereas conventional medicine is rather critical of this topic.
In babies, flatulence is usually caused by swallowing air while crying, drinking or simply breathing. Often the air in the gastrointestinal tract (gastrointestinal tract) also causes the baby to suffer from a feeling of fullness even though he or she has not yet drunk enough milk. The pain or discomfort usually manifests itself through increased crying, a refusal to continue drinking or through pain distorted facial features, mainly after drinking.
As a rule, burping after drinking helps very well to get rid of the swallowed air. In addition, breastfeeding is much more digestible than bottle-feeding, as the milk flow is slower and easier to control and therefore less air is swallowed. If breastfeeding is not possible, the baby should be fed in an upright position if possible, the air trapped in the bottle should be removed and a burp should be given after drinking.
If the baby is suffering from severe flatulence, which does not improve with a burp, antiflatulent medication (e.g. Lefax for babies) can be taken to combat any colic that may follow. This is a defoamer which binds the many small gas bubbles to form large gas bubbles which the baby can burp more easily. Caraway-fennel oil ointments or caraway suppositories can also help to relieve flatulence.
The treatment of an inflated stomach (meteorism) or of many intestinal gas outlets (flatulence) initially aims at a more balanced, healthy diet. This means that flatulent foods such as onions, cabbage, legumes or particularly fatty, sweet, overly hasty or opulent food as well as carbonated drinks, coffee and alcohol should be avoided. Likewise, certain household remedies such as caraway, aniseed, fennel, ginger or artichoke leaves in the form of teas or medicines, as well as a relaxing hot-water bottle, can relieve flatulence.
In addition, regular physical activity and sufficient fluid intake can help to prevent the development of abdominal cramps or discomfort caused by flatulence. Often flatulence can also be caused by food intolerances such as lactose intolerance (intolerance to dairy products) or an intolerance to cereal proteins (gluten), which is known as coeliac disease / sprue. If such a disease is present, the flatulent foods should be avoided.
For severe flatulence and pain, both antispasmodic painkillers (spasmolytics) and buscopan (butylscopalamine) can be taken, which relaxes the intestinal muscles. In addition, defoaming drugs (Simeticon, Diumeticon), which destroy the gas bubbles, can help to relieve flatulence. If the flatulence has been caused by taking medication such as antibiotics, it is advisable to rebuild the intestinal flora with good intestinal bacteria (probiotics).
The nutrition plays a decisive role in the development as well as in the prevention of flatulence. A healthy and balanced diet is the best way to avoid flatulence. In addition, great importance should be attached to quiet eating and thorough chewing.
Stress, as well as the intake of food under hectic rush, increases the development of flatulence. It is also advisable not to talk too much during the meal, as otherwise a lot of air will be swallowed. Carbonated drinks (such as fizzy drinks, cola, lemonades) as well as coffee or alcoholic beverages can also cause flatulence and should be enjoyed with caution. In addition, artificial sweeteners should be removed from the diet because of their flatulent effect.
