When to Seek Medical Care
Many gastrointestinal symptoms are common and not dangerous. However, some symptoms require medical evaluation because they may indicate conditions other than SIBO.
Seek prompt medical care
Do not self-treat persistent gastrointestinal symptoms if you have red flag features.
Red Flag Symptoms
Seek medical evaluation for:
- blood in the stool
- black or tarry stools
- unintentional weight loss
- persistent vomiting
- fever
- dehydration
- anemia
- severe or progressive abdominal pain
- persistent diarrhea
- nighttime symptoms that wake you from sleep
- progressive difficulty swallowing
- new gastrointestinal symptoms after age 50
Higher-Risk Situations
Medical supervision is especially important if you have:
- prior bowel surgery
- inflammatory bowel disease
- celiac disease
- pancreatitis
- immune deficiency
- cirrhosis
- scleroderma or connective tissue disease
- diabetes with suspected autonomic dysfunction
- pregnancy
- frailty or advanced age
- significant weight loss or malnutrition
Before Starting Antibiotics
Antibiotics should be used under medical guidance. Repeated antibiotic courses can cause adverse effects, alter the microbiome, and delay the correct diagnosis if symptoms are caused by another condition.
Emergency Symptoms
Seek urgent or emergency care for severe abdominal pain with fever, fainting, severe dehydration, persistent vomiting, confusion, black stools, large-volume rectal bleeding, or signs of bowel obstruction.