Come diagnosticare la sovracrescita batterica (SIBO): sintomi chiave e test

When you suspect a bacterial overgrowth diagnosis such as SIBO, the first clues are a cluster of GI symptoms: persistent bloating, post-meal fullness, abdominal pain, loud gas, and irregular bowel habits (diarrhea, constipation, or alternating patterns). Because these symptoms overlap with other GI disorders, clinicians approach the bacterial overgrowth diagnosis with a structured plan that emphasizes gut motility and microbial balance in the small intestine. Noninvasive breath tests are at the center of most diagnostic pathways and can be performed in many clinics. In some cases, doctors may consider the gold-standard intestinal aspirate culture, but this invasive option is reserved for specific scenarios. Tests and interpretation play a central role in confirming the bacterial overgrowth diagnosis. Breath testing measures hydrogen and methane produced by gut microbes after you ingest a sugar substrate such as glucose or lactulose. Glucose tends to reach the proximal small intestine, while lactulose travels further, which influences how results are read. Patterns of hydrogen or methane production, combined with symptoms, help confirm or rule out SIBO, but tests can yield false positives or negatives depending on recent antibiotic use, diet, or bowel transit time. Preparation steps matter: follow your clinician’s pre-test instructions, avoid antibiotics for the recommended window, and ensure proper fasting. In practice, the most reliable decisions come from integrating test results with clinical context and patient history. Practical steps to confirm the diagnosis and start relief include working closely with a clinician to choose the appropriate test and interpret results, followed by targeted treatment and lifestyle adjustments. If a positive result guides therapy, many clinicians recommend an antibiotic course (often rifaximin, sometimes paired with another agent for methane-predominant cases) and then re-testing to confirm eradication. While treatment is underway, consider dietary strategies that reduce fermentable substrates, support gut motility, and minimize symptom flares. Keeping a symptom and food diary can help identify triggers, monitor response to therapy, and tailor a long-term plan that aims for lasting relief. InnerBuddies can augment the bacterial overgrowth diagnosis journey with a comprehensive gut health platform. The white-label Gut Health Operating System can power your own microbiome testing products, offering a modular set of features that translate data into actionable insights. The Gut Microbiome Health Index provides a 0–100 score of overall gut health, grounded in an exclusive IP collaboration with EAFIT University in Colombia. You’ll also see how your abundances compare against a healthy cohort across a curated top 40 bacteria, plus functional categories that label microbial metabolic activities as positive or negative and show your standing in each pathway. Target Group analysis lets you dive into microbiome patterns relevant to specific audiences—Healthy Aging, Endurance Sport, Skin & Hair Health, and more—while personalized nutrition and probiotic/prebiotic recommendations turn data into practical steps you can take today. If you’re exploring consumer solutions, check out the InnerBuddies microbiome test and ongoing support through the gut health membership, or connect with potential partners via the B2B program: InnerBuddies microbiome test, gut health membership, and InnerBuddies B2B program.