title: Rifaximin treatment for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in children with irritable bowel syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aims of the study were to assess the effects of rifaximin treatment on small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) prevalence and gastrointestinal symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty (50) irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) children were consecutively enrolled. All subjects underwent lactulose hydrogen/methane breath test (LBT) to assess SIBO before and one month after the treatment with rifaximin 600 mg daily for one week. All IBS patients filled out a Visual Analogic Scale (VAS) to assess and score gastrointestinal symptoms (abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhoea, bloating, flatulence) at baseline and one month after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of abnormal LBT in patients with IBS was 66% (33/50). LBT normalization rate was 64% (21/33). Compliance was excellent, and no relevant side-effects were observed during treatment. VAS score was significantly higher in IBS patients with abnormal LBT than SIBO negatives, and strongly improved after successful treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rifaximin was effective and safe in SIBO treatment and IBS symptoms improvement in childhood. Double blind placebo-controlled interventional studies are warranted to verify the real impact of SIBO on gastrointestinal symptoms in children with IBS.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department and Pediatric Department, School of Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Gemelli Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Scarpellini
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Giorgio
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gabrielli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Filoni
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vitale
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tortora
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ojetti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gigante
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fundarò
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gasbarrini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001944:Breath Tests; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000382:microbiology*; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000382:microbiology*; D007792:Lactulose; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012294:Rifamycins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000078262:Rifaximin
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D012294:Rifamycins; D007792:Lactulose; D000078262:Rifaximin