How to manage an overabundance of actinobacteria?

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and understood your concern. Firstly, I would like to inform you that gut bacterial overgrowth can be categorized into two types. One is dysbiosis (a mild alteration in gut microbiota) and the second is small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (already clinically symptomatic as well). So I need to know, what are your predominant symptoms? As for your question, for such types of gut bacterial overgrowth, I typically employ locally acting antibiotics (with no systemic absorption, and unable to enter the bloodstream), such as Rifaximin. I suggest you take a tablet of Rifaximin 200 mg twice daily for seven days. If symptoms persist, a two-week treatment can also be considered. I suggest you consult a specialist, talk with them and take the medications with their consent. I hope this has helped you. Kindly follow up if you have more doubts.

Thank you.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I read your query and understood your concern. I will address your concerns one by one in detail. So, our gut harbors billions of bacteria, collectively known as the gut microbiota, and actinobacteria is a component of it. Dysbiosis or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth represents a significant alteration in the normal distribution or pattern of gut microbiota. The primary symptoms usually involve notable abdominal bloating, diarrhea, cramps, and occasionally fever. Your symptoms could stem from a sensitive gut, which could be further aggravated by stress as well. Dividing your symptoms into two categories such as, upper gastrointestinal symptoms like indigestion and heartburn, and lower gastrointestinal symptoms like abdominal discomfort, cramps, increased stool frequency, and sometimes alterations in stool consistency. I suggest you follow the below mentioned instructions:

1. For indigestion, you can take an acid suppression medication like a tablet of Pantoprazole 20 mg half an hour before breakfast for two weeks. Additionally, take an antacid syrup 10ml after each meal or as needed for indigestion and heartburn.
2. To address abdominal cramps, I suggest you use an antispasmodic like Mebeverine or any effective antispasmodic on an as-needed basis.
3. If you are experiencing increased stool frequency after eating, take probiotics over antibiotics. Consume naturally occurring probiotics like yogurt daily, or you can even try commercially available probiotic sachets once daily with a glass of water for two weeks.
4. Stress can disrupt the gut, contributing to symptoms like yours. Strive to manage stress and its potential impact on your symptoms.
5. Avoid eating out for a few weeks, if possible.
6. Refrain from searching your symptoms on the internet as the information you find might not be filtered and could lead to difficulties in clinically correlating your symptoms. This can exacerbate anxiety and worsen your symptoms.
7. Rifaximin is a potent medication in this context. I suggest you use it only if the aforementioned management strategies do not provide satisfactory relief.
8. I suggest starting with probiotics first, which might help alleviate your symptoms. Later, you can decide about using Rifaximin based on your clinical symptoms.

I hope this has helped you. Kindly follow up if you have more doubts.

Thank you.