Frequency of Celiac Disease in Patients With Increased Intestinal Gas (Flatulence)

Excessive flatulence which impairs social performance in patients is one of the common reasons for referrals to gastroenterology clinics. Celiac Disease is a rare but important cause of increased intestinal gas (bloating) and if not diagnosed, patients face complications such as malabsorption, anemia, osteoporosis and even intestinal lymphoma. This study aimed to determine the frequency of Celiac Disease in patients with excessive flatulence.One hundred and fifty patients with a chief complaint of experiencing flatulence more than 15 times a day and lasting for three months were referred to the gastroenterology clinic of Rasoul-e-Akram Teaching Hospital. Serological tests for Celiac Disease, Anti TTG Ab (IgA-IgG) were requested and the patients with positive tests underwent upper GI endoscopy. Biopsies of the second part of the duodenum were then sent to the laboratory.From one hundred and thirty patients who completed the study, 92 (70.7) were female. Mean age of the patients was 32 ± 13 years. Anti TTG Ab was found in 5 patients (3.85). Only 2 patients (1.5) had a documented positive pathology for Celiac Disease.According to the results of this study and other studies, we conclude that Celiac Disease is an uncommon etiology for excessive flatulence but it is of importance to investigate it in excessive flatulence patients

Chamomile efficacy in patients of the irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common GI functional disorder, which presents with a wide range of symptoms such as chronic abdominal discomfort, bloating and altered bowel habits. The variety of symptoms has led to a difficult therapeutic challenge and no specific treatment for relieving all IBS symptoms has been suggested yet. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of Chamomile extract on IBS symptoms. In a randomized trial, 45 patients who fulfilled the ROOM III criteria and had no organic disease enrolled in this study and were asked to take Chamomile 20 drops daily for four weeks. They were asked to fill in IBS-associated symptoms questionnaire to specify abdominal pain intensity, bloating, nausea, stool consistency and altered bowel habits. The questionnaire was filled out during 5visits: at the first day, at the second and fourth weeks after starting the treatment and also the second and fourth weeks after the end of intervention. IBS symptoms were significantly reduced at the second and fourth weeks after beginning of the herbal therapy (p<0.001). Symptom relief continued up to 2 weeks after the end of intervention and started to decrease in 4 weeks after beginning of the herbal therapy. Considering the improving effects of Chamomile on all IBS symptoms, it may have a positive effect on the syndrome pathogenesis as well