Symptoms of intestinal dysbiosis in women, causes of the disease, treatment

Intestinal dysbiosis is a fairly common pathology characterized by digestive disorders. It causes a lot of trouble. Symptoms of intestinal dysbacteriosis in women are many-sided: these include disturbed stools, periodic abdominal pain, poor-quality digestion of food, and many other signs. The disease is associated with a violation of the normal composition of microflora, in which pathogenic bacteria “colonize” the body. What triggered this condition? And what methods to deal with it?

Causes of pathology

Many microorganisms “live” on the surface of the intestine. Basically, these are indispensable and very beneficial bacteria for humans. They help the digestive process, the absorption of calcium, iron, provide the synthesis of amino acids, vitamins, inhibit the development of putrefactive, pathogenic microbes. Such microflora helps to strengthen the immune system, protects against the development of allergies, provides anti-infection, as well as anti-cancer protection.

But if there is an imbalance in the ratio of beneficial and harmful microorganisms, then the body develops a disease of dysbiosis. There are many reasons that can cause such a pathology.

Often the symptoms of intestinal dysbiosis in women, as well as in men, are provoked by the following sources:

1. Digestive tract ailments. Often these are chronic inflammatory pathologies that occur in the digestive tract: gastritis, non-infectious enteritis, duodenitis, pancreatitis, various hepatitis, dyskinesias, hepatoses.
2. Parasites of the intestines and liver. They can provoke unpleasant symptoms: opisthorchia, lamblia, roundworm, pinworms.
3. Intestinal infections. Specific pathogens (Shigella, Salmonella, harmful Escherichia coli) seriously disrupt the normal microflora.
4. Frequent SARS.
5. Stress.
6. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
7. Immunodeficiency states (oncology, cirrhosis, diabetes, AIDS, and others).
8. Long-term treatment with hormones, NSAIDs.

The main factors in the development of dysbiosis in women

The pathology may be based on other reasons. They are typical for the fair sex.

Doctors say that most often the symptoms of intestinal dysbiosis in women are provoked by the following factors:

1. A variety of diets. Many women often resort to a variety of nutritional schemes. And very often their choice dwells on strict diets, in which the range of products is strictly limited. This extremely negatively affects the intestinal microflora. As a result, dysbiosis, and sometimes severe digestive tract ailments, can develop.
2. Excessive cleansing of the body. We are talking about a variety of ways to cleanse the intestines: repeated enemas, the use of sorbents or laxatives, hydrocolonotherapy. This process really helps eliminate intestinal toxins. But, unfortunately, the normal microflora is lost along with them. If a significant part of the beneficial bacteria is washed out of the body, dysbiosis begins to develop in the intestine.
3. Taking antibiotics. Many women consider such drugs a panacea for any ailments. These young ladies use antibacterial drugs at the first symptoms of malaise. And in order to finally “finish off” the infection, they take this medicine for a long time. But, unfortunately, the intestinal microflora is “killed”.

Characteristic symptoms

It is believed that the initial stages of the pathology may not manifest any clinical signs. Unpleasant phenomena occur when the pathology is already progressing.

Doctors strongly recommend that you pay attention to the following symptoms of intestinal dysbiosis in women:

1. Broken stool. Diarrhea is observed, provoked by increased formation of bile acids and increased intestinal motility. These processes inhibit the absorption of water in the body. A little later, the bowel movements get putrid odor. They may have mucus or blood. In some cases (more common among older people), constipation develops instead of diarrhea.
2. Bloating. Due to impaired absorption and removal of gases, they accumulate in the large intestine. A woman feels unpleasant discomfort in the peritoneal cavity, which may be accompanied by rumbling.
3. Cramping pains. In the intestines, pressure increases. As a result of this, the patient experiences periodic discomfort. Its intensity is significantly reduced after the passage of stool or gases. The pain can be localized in the navel, if the small intestine is suffering , or on the right, in the lower abdomen, if the pathology has covered the colon.
4. Dyspeptic disorders. They characterize digestive disorders. These are symptoms such as decreased appetite, belching, painful nausea, and vomiting.
5. Allergic manifestations. Disturbance of microflora leads to failures in many systems. As a result of a weakened antiallergic effect, the patient may develop a rash, itching, after taking products that did not cause such reactions before.
6. Signs of intoxication. Since metabolic products accumulate in the body, the patient may have a fever (up to 38 degrees), general fatigue, headache, and sleep disturbance.
7. Symptoms indicating a deficiency of vitamins. Of course, with dysbiosis, the body does not receive the necessary nutrition. This situation may be indicated by: dry, pale skin, the appearance of stomatitis, the formation of a seizure near the mouth, a change in nails, hair.

Possible complications

It is important to give timely importance to the unpleasant symptoms that appear and consult a doctor to prescribe appropriate treatment. Otherwise, chronic dysbiosis may develop.

This condition is extremely dangerous for its possible consequences:

1. Deficiency of trace elements and vitamins. As a result of constantly disturbed digestion and absorption in the intestine, iron deficiency anemia and hypovitaminosis can develop.
2. Chronic enterocolitis. Prolonged exposure to pathogenic flora leads to intestinal inflammation.
3. Peritonitis. The aggressive influence of harmful bacteria causes intestinal destruction. As a result, the contents may enter the abdominal cavity.
4. Sepsis. The infection is dictated by the entry of pathogenic flora into the blood.
5. Pancreatitis, gastroduodenitis.
6. The emergence of other ailments. Immunity is reduced. As a result of this, a wide variety of diseases can appear.
7. Weight loss. Digestion leads to a lack of useful substances in the body.

Diagnosis of ailment

To find the appropriate treatment for intestinal dysbiosis in adults, you need to see a doctor.

Diagnostics will be carried out initially. It consists of the following events:

1. Assessment of patient complaints.
2. Visual examination, including palpation of the abdomen. It allows you to determine in which area the problem is localized.
3. Microbiological analysis of feces. For an accurate diagnosis of the patient, 3 days before the study, they are transferred to a special diet. Such nutrition excludes food that can increase intestinal fermentation. This is lactic acid food, alcohol. The use of antibacterial drugs is unacceptable at this time. To reliably make a diagnosis, doctors recommend conducting such an analysis 2-3 times, after 1-2 days.

Methods for treating the disease

Dysbacteriosis is very often associated with various pathologies: irritable bowel syndrome, changes in motility, psycho-emotional malfunctions. Therefore, it is possible to fight the disease only by complex methods.

Treatment of intestinal dysbiosis in adults depends on the disease that triggered it, as well as on clinical symptoms.

In most cases, the following measures are recommended to the patient:

• dieting;
• getting rid of the excessive development of harmful microflora;
• colonization of the intestines with beneficial microorganisms;
• increase immunity in order to create a natural flora.

And remember: no matter what effective remedy for dysbiosis you use (probiotics, dietary supplements, kefir), self-medication rarely leads to a complete recovery.

Drug therapy

The treatment consists of the following drugs:

1. Prebiotics. Provide growth and reproduction of beneficial microbes. These are such drugs: "Dufalac", "Hilak-forte."
2. Probiotics Medications contain live bacteria. Such means are: Lifepack Probiotic, Bifidumbacterin, Flonivin, Enterol, Baktisubtil, Bifikol, Lineks, Biosorb-Bifidum, Bifidumbacterin Forte.
3. Symbiotics These are medicines that combine a prebiotic and a probiotic. They simultaneously stimulate the development of normal flora and restore an insufficient number of necessary microbes. These include medicines: "Bifidobak", "Maltodofilus."
4. Antibiotics. Such pills for dysbiosis are used in the last stages of the disease. Their goal is to destroy the pathogenic flora. Most often prescribed: "Doxycycline", "Cefuroxime", "Ceftriaxone", "Ampioks", "Metronidazole".
5. Antifungal agents. They are recommended if yeast-like fungi are found in the feces. Often prescribed the drug "Levorin."
6. Enzymes. These pills for dysbiosis help normalize the digestive process. Drugs may be recommended: Mezim, Creon, Pancreatin.
7. Sorbents. With severe symptoms of intoxication, this remedy for dysbiosis is mandatory. Recommended medications: Enterosgel, Polyphepan, Activated Carbon, Smecta, Enterodes.
8. Multivitamins. With dysbiosis, the drug "Duovit" is useful.

Diet food

Patients are recommended to follow the diet number 4. Depending on the condition of the patient, various modifications of this table are prescribed. Nutrition contributes to the normalization of intestinal functioning, reduces the activity of putrefactive processes.

For patients it is recommended:

• consume food containing dietary fiber;
• give preference to live bacterial cultures (yoghurts, kefir);
• monitor the diet;
• exclude non-useful food: fatty, spicy foods, marinades, smoked meats.

Alternative treatment

There are many excellent methods that can deal with such a pathology as dysbiosis. Alternative treatment will be beneficial if it is fully agreed with the doctor.

Excellent folk remedies include:

• rice broth;
• tincture of oak bark;
• fresh garlic (it is recommended to use it before eating, for 1 hour).

However, do not forget that the best remedy for dysbiosis can only be recommended to you by a doctor, based on the characteristics of the pathology occurring in your body.