The term "dysbiosis" or "dysbacteriosis" is relatively new, coined when scientists discovered the many different microorganisms that live in our bodies. For the most part, these "neighbors" are harmless, while some are beneficial. Trillions of microorganisms live on the skin, mucous membranes, genitals, and gastrointestinal tract. Together, they form the microbiome. When these microorganisms cease to interact properly with each other, dysbacteriosis develops. Dysbacteriosis is an undesirable change in the microbial sphere of the human body. There are two main types of this imbalance: bacterial and fungal. However, it is important to understand that dysbacteriosis itself is not a disease. It is a fairly common problem that occurs in adults and children, even in infants. Researchers still do not know what comes first: dysbacteriosis itself or the diseases associated with it.

The main general signs of dysbiosis:

- Excessive growth of certain bacteria or fungi

- Absence or deficiency of beneficial bacteria

- Low diversity of certain types of microorganisms in the microbiota

Fungal dysbacteriosis is considered separately.

This occurs when harmless fungi in the human body begin to grow more intensively than normal. This fungal formation is a frequent cause of ear infections, athlete's foot, vaginal infections, many of which are caused by Candida and Aspergillus.

Intestinal dysbacteriosis

The best-known microbial ecosystem is the intestinal microbiota. This community consists of more than a trillion bacteria, fungi and archaea that maintain the proper functioning of the body. A healthy and balanced microbiota contains a sufficient number of beneficial bacteria. They produce important nutrients that support the intestinal mucosa and protect the body from pathogens. Diversity is the main indicator for diagnosing gut microbiome dysbiosis. There are more than 1,000 different types of bacteria in a healthy microbiome. They control the growth and reproduction of foreign bacteria and potentially pathogenic microorganisms.

Many factors can affect the health of the gut microbiota, but the main one is the use of antibiotics. Even a single course of antibiotics can cause dysbiosis, which can last for months. Repeated use of antibiotics can permanently disrupt the gut microbiota. Diet and lifestyle also affect the development of dysbiosis. Alcohol, fast food, and large amounts of sugary drinks will not benefit your intestines. Intestinal dysbiosis is often accompanied by other diseases. These include obesity, cardiovascular disease, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis. It is not easy to understand whether dysbiosis causes the disease or manifests itself as a symptom.

Symptoms of dysbiosis

The symptoms of intestinal dysbiosis are very nonspecific and overlap with many common health problems, such as irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and celiac disease. Studies show that dysbiosis itself is a risk factor for the development of these conditions.

Common symptoms of intestinal dysbiosis include: flatulence, bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation.

Diagnosis and treatment of dysbiosis

Dysbiosis is not a diagnosis, but a characteristic of the state of the body. The first test to check whether everything is fine with the balance of bacteria is a stool analysis. Such a test analyzes many characteristics of the intestinal microbiota. They determine which types of bacteria live in your body and in what proportion.

3 main indicators of intestinal bacterial balance:

- Diversity of microorganisms

- Assessment of the substances produced by bacteria

- Assessment of the level of protection against diseases

The diversity of microorganisms is one of the main indicators of the health of the large intestine. An imbalance of microflora leads to the development of dysbacteriosis. Even in the case of dysbacteriosis, the intestinal microbiota does not produce enough nutrients and vitamins, especially short-chain fatty acids. These substances contribute to the normal maintenance of the intestinal mucosa and the fight against harmful bacteria. Finally, the composition and ratio of intestinal bacteria help us assess how protected you are from diseases. For example, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, obesity, heart disease and type II diabetes.

How to treat intestinal dysbiosis

Before you start treatment, you need to make sure that you are really dealing with dysbacteriosis and that the unpleasant symptoms are not caused by food poisoning or infection. To do this, you can visit a doctor and take tests.

The problem of dysbacteriosis should be solved by a doctor. As a rule, treatment includes a new diet, probiotics and lifestyle. There is no universal cure for dysbacteriosis, no matter how convincing the advertising of various drugs may be.

It is useful to monitor your diet, even if you do not suffer from symptoms of dysbacteriosis. A diet rich in cellulose will help