Bloating Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
Bloating, or known in medical terms as meteorismus, is a symptom indicating the presence of air or gas in the abdominal or intestinal cavities.
This condition is commonly known to the public as flatulence. Flatulence is a symptom that can be caused by disorders of the stomach ( dyspepsia syndrome ) to disorders of the intestine.
Flatulence can happen to anyone, from children to adults. Generally, this condition will make people who experience it feel uncomfortable. Sometimes it can even interfere with the activities of the sufferer.
Symptoms
Excessive accumulation of gas in the intestine will cause various symptoms such as stomach feeling bloated, passing gas (flatus), or abdominal pain. These additional complaints can also lead to the cause of bloating complaints.
If you feel complaints of heartburn and a bitter taste on the tip of the tongue, it is possible that the disturbance can lead to stomach acid reflux disease. If you complain that there is a change in the consistency of the stool to become more oily, then disturbances in the absorption of food or disorders of the pancreas can occur.
Reason
Flatulence can occur for several reasons. One of them is gastric disorders or the lower part of the digestive tract such as the intestines. If the disturbance occurs in the stomach, this bloating complaint is called dyspepsia syndrome.
In addition, flatulence can also occur due to excessive gas formation in the intestine. This can happen due to the presence of fermented foods that are not absorbed by intestinal bacteria.
Bacterial overgrowth occurs due to a gastrointestinal infection or food that forms excess gas. Some types of food that can form excessive gas include sweet potatoes and cheese.
Diagnosis
To determine the diagnosis of flatulence, you can start with a medical interview. At the medical interview, the doctor will ask if you feel any symptoms of nausea, bloating or stomach pain.
A crying child can also inhale excess air resulting in an increase in the air content in the intestine. On physical examination, an enlarged abdomen, tenderness in the abdomen, and disturbances of bowel sounds can be found.
After the medical interview and physical examination have been carried out, the examination can be continued with laboratory tests to see if there are blood electrolyte disturbances. Ultrasound examination of the abdomen, plain X-ray of the abdomen in three positions, and CT scan may also be performed.
In cases of dyspepsia syndrome that does not improve with acid-suppressing drugs, upper gastrointestinal binocular examination can be considered.
Treatment
Treatment for flatulence depends on the cause. If the cause of flatulence is due to an increase in stomach acid, then giving stomach acid suppressants can be done.
In absorption disorders due to lack of digestive enzymes, digestive enzyme supplementation can be done. It is very important to determine the cause of the bloating, whether it is a functional disorder or a surgical disorder. This will determine further therapy.
Prevention
Prevention of flatulence can be done by avoiding foods that can cause gas production in digestion. Giving enzymes, acid-suppressing drugs and prokinetics can be given to prevent bloating in disorders of digestive enzyme production and stomach acid disorders.