Treatment strategies should focus on identifying and correcting the root causes, where possible, resolving nutritional deficiencies, and administering antibiotics. This is especially important for patients with indigestion and malabsorption. Although whether antibiotics should be a first line treatment is a matter of debate. Some experts recommend probiotics as first line therapy with antibiotics being reserved as a second line treatment for more severe cases of<unk> . Prokinetic drugs are other options but research in humans is limited. A variety of antibiotics, including tetracycline, amoxicillin-clavulanate, metronidazole, neomycin, cephalexin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole have been used; however, the best evidence is for the use of rifaximin, a poorly-absorbed antibiotic. Although irritable bowel syndrome has been shown to respond to the treatment of poorly-absorbed antibiotics, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of such treatment in cases of<unk> , and as of 2020, randomized controlled trials are still needed to further confirm the eradicating effect of such treatment in<unk> . A course of one week of antibiotics is usually sufficient to treat the condition. However, if the condition recurs, antibiotics can be given in a cyclical fashion in order to prevent tolerance. For example, antibiotics may be given for a week, followed by three weeks off antibiotics, followed by another week of treatment. Alternatively, the choice of antibiotic used can be cycled. There is still limited data to guide the clinician in developing antibiotic strategies for<unk> . Therapy remains, for the most part, empiric. However, concerns exist about the potential risks of long-term broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy. Probiotics are<unk>  preparations that alter the<unk>  flora in the bowel to cause a beneficial effect. Animal research has demonstrated that probiotics have barrier enhancing, antibacterial, immune modulating and anti-inflammatory effects which may have a positive effect in the management of<unk>  in humans. Lactobacillus casei has been found to be effective in improving breath hydrogen scores after 6 weeks of treatment presumably by suppressing levels of a<unk>  of fermenting<unk>  The multi-strain preparation VSL#3 was found to be effective in suppressing<unk> . Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Lactobacillus casei have all demonstrated effectiveness in the treatment and management of<unk> . Conversely, Lactobacillus fermentum and Saccharomyces boulardii have been found to be ineffective. A combination of Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus rhamnosus has been found to be effective in suppressing<unk><unk>  of abnormal gas producing organisms in the<unk>  intestine. Probiotics are superior to antibiotics in the treatment of<unk> . A combination of probiotic strains has been found to produce better results than therapy with the antibiotic drug metronidazole. An elemental diet has been shown to be highly effective for eliminating<unk>  with a two-week diet demonstrating 80% efficacy and a three-week diet demonstrating 85% efficacy. An elemental diet works via providing nutrition for the individual while depriving the<unk> of a food source. Additional treatment options include the use of prokinetic drugs such as 5-HT4 receptor agonists or motilin agonists to extend the<unk>  free period after treatment with an elemental diet or antibiotics. A diet void of certain foods that feed the<unk> can help alleviate the symptoms. For example, if the symptoms are caused by<unk><unk>  feeding on indigestible carbohydrate rich foods, following a FODMAP restriction diet may help.
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
Autoimmune gastrointestinal dysmotility
Intestinal neuronal dysplasia
Foreign body in alimentary tract
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency
Glucose-galactose malabsorption
Fructose malabsorption
Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome