In gastrointestinal health, two terms, SIBO and H. pylori, are often associated with digestive symptoms. SIBO, short for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, involves an abnormal increase in bacteria in the small intestine, while H. pylori is a bacterium known for causing stomach ulcers and other digestive problems. Despite their differences, there’s a connection between these conditions, especially regarding nonspecific digestive symptoms. Understanding this relationship is crucial for managing related gut disorders effectively.
The key difference between SIBO and H. pylori is the nature of bacterial overgrowth. SIBO is a condition primarily due to an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine, while H. pylori is a bacterium that causes an infection in humans, affecting the stomach lining.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is SIBO
3. What is H. pylori
4. Similarities – SIBO and H. pylori
5. SIBO vs H. pylori in Tabular Form
6. Summary – SIBO vs H. pylori
7. FAQ – SIBO and H. pylori
What is SIBO?
SIBO is a condition caused by the overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine, leading to an imbalance of microorganisms that are crucial for healthy digestion. This overgrowth can result from changes in the function of chemicals such as gastric acid, bile, enzymes, and immunoglobulins, which normally control bacterial levels in the small intestine. Additionally, delayed emptying of food contents from the small intestine into the large intestine can contribute to SIBO by disrupting the natural balance of bacteria.
Risk factors for SIBO include low stomach acid (associated with Helicobacter pylori infection, prolonged use of antacids, and gastric bypass surgery), small intestine dysmotility, structural issues in the small intestine, and overuse of certain medications like antibiotics, narcotics, and gastric acid suppressants. Common symptoms of SIBO include abdominal pain, distension, nausea, bloating, indigestion, gas, constipation, diarrhea, unintentional weight loss, and fatigue.
SIBO can be diagnosed through blood tests, stool tests, and imaging tests. Furthermore, treatment options for SIBO are a course of antibiotics and prescribed motility agents to help stimulate the process and keep things moving.
What is H. pylori?
H. pylori is a bacterium that causes peptic ulcers and gastritis. Their infection affects the stomach and duodenum. This condition mainly affects children in developing countries. This bacterium secretes an enzyme called urease, which converts urea to ammonia. Ammonia protects the bacterium from stomach acid, allowing H. pylori to multiply. Symptoms of H. pylori infection include dull or burning pain, unplanned weight loss, bloating, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, burping, loss of appetite, and dark stools.
H. pylori infection can be diagnosed through stool tests and upper endoscopy. Furthermore, treatment options for H. pylori infection may include antibiotics such as amoxicillin, clarithromycin (Biaxin®), metronidazole (Flagyl®) and tetracycline, proton pump inhibitors, and bismuth subsalicylate.
Similarities Between SIBO and H. pylori
- SIBO and h.pylori are two associated terms.
- There is a link between Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) with nonspecific digestive symptoms.
- Both can sometimes cause similar digestive symptoms.
- Their symptoms can be diagnosed through a stool test.
- Moreover, their symptoms can be treated through antibiotics.
Comparing the Difference Between SIBO and H. pylori
Definition
- SIBO is a condition due to the overgrowth of small intestinal bacteria, leading to an imbalance of the microorganisms in the gut.
- H. pylori is a bacterium that causes peptic ulcers and gastritis.
Infection Causes
- Low stomach acid, small intestine dysmotility, structural problems in the small intestine, and overuse of certain medications such as antibiotics, narcotics, and gastric acid suppressants.
- H.pylori multipication.
Infection Symptoms
- Abdominal pain, abdominal distension, nausea, bloating, indigestion, gas, constipation, diarrhea, constipation, unintentional weight loss, and fatigue.
- Dull or burning pain, unplanned weight loss, bloating, nausea and vomiting, indigestion, burping, loss of appetite, and dark stools.
Infection Treatment
- A course of antibiotics and prescribed motility agents to help stimulate the process
- Antibiotics such as amoxicillin, clarithromycin (Biaxin®), metronidazole (Flagyl®), tetracycline, proton pump inhibitors, and bismuth subsalicylate.
The following table presents the difference between SIBO and H. pylori in a side-by-side comparison.
Summary – SIBO vs H. pylori
Digestive disorders are a variety of diseases ranging from mild to severe that affect the digestive system. SIBO and H. pylori are two linked conditions. This is because H. pylori infection can lead to SIBO. This is because H. pylori infection causes low stomach acid, leading to SIBO. However, SIBO is a condition that is primarily due to an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine, while H. pylori is a bacterium that causes an infection in humans that affects the stomach lining. Thus, this is the key difference between SIBO and H. pylori.
FAQ: SIBO and H. pylori
1. Is the test for pylori and SIBO the same?
- H. pylori is a bacterium involved in causing gastritis. On the other hand, SIBO is due to the overgrowth of small intestine bacteria due to reduced acidity and structural problems in the small intestine.
2. How do I know if I have SIBO or gastritis?
- Gastritis is a condition that involves inflammation of the stomach lining. This causes symptoms such as pain and discomfort as well as nausea. SIBO is due to a bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine. This leads to malabsorption of nutrients, bloating and diarrhoea.
3. How do you identify SIBO?
- Common tests for SIBO include breath testing, which measures the amount of hydrogen or methane that people breathe out after drinking a mixture of glucose and water. In this test, a rapid rise in exhaled hydrogen or methane may indicate bacterial overgrowth in your small intestine.
4. Is pylori bacteria harmful?
- Most people infected with pylori don’t develop any problems. But this bacteria can do serious damage to the stomach lining, and it is ultimately leading to peptic ulcers and stomach cancer.
5. Can H. pylori infection be cured?
- H.pylori treatment usually includes several antibiotics. These antibiotics help to kill the bacteria. Other medications cause the stomach to make less acid; lower acid levels help the ulcer to heal. Most people are cured after finishing two weeks of these medicines.
Reference:
1. “SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth): Symptoms, Diet, Causes & What It Is.” Cleveland Clinic.
2. “H. Pylori Infection: How Do You Get, Causes, Symptoms, Tests & Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic.
Image Courtesy:
1. “H pylori ulcer diagram en” By Y_tambe – Y_tambe's file (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia