Disturbed gut microbiota explains persistent abdominal pain after a major environmental disaster
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Date
2017
Authors
Yusof, Nurfadhilah
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Pusat Pengajian Sains Perubatan, Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
Background:
It is unknown if there is association between abdominal pain and poor water, sanitation
and hygiene (WaSH) practices and if small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and/or gut
dysbiosis explains abdominal pain after a major flood.
Methods:
Abdominal symptoms, quality of life, psychological disturbances, WaSH practices, SIBO
and stools for high-throughput sequencing were assessed in flood victims.
Results:
Of 211 participants (mean age 54.5 years, females 71%), 37.9% had abdominal pain.
Poor WaSH practices during flood and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) were associated with
abdominal pain (both P < 0.04). Those with abdominal pain experienced worse quality of life
and more anxiety (both P < 0.05). SIBO was associated with abdominal pain (P = 0.01), poor
water practices during flood (P = 0.04) and limited physical functioning (P = 0.02). Using linear
discriminant analysis effect size method, gut dysbiosis was observed in those with anxiety
(Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria, effect size 4.8), abdominal pain (Fusobacteria,
Staphylococcus, Megamonas and Plesiomonas, effect size 4.0) and IBS (Plesiomonas and
Trabulsiella, effect size 3.0).
Conclusions:
Disturbed gut microbiota because of environmentally-derived organisms may explain
persistent abdominal pain after a major environmental disaster in the presence of poor WaSH
practices.
Description
Keywords
Abdominal pain