Gas--flatus, excessive

• air swallowed while eating, causing discomfort and fullness after eating (aerophagia)
• eating non-digestible foods (such as excessive amounts of fiber )
• eating non-tolerated foods (as in lactose intolerance )
• acute pancreatitis
• irritable bowel syndrome (with abdominal pain )
• malabsorption (inadequate absorption of nutrients from the intestinal tract), often accompanied by diarrhea
• use of antibiotics

Note: There may be other causes of flatulence. This list is not all inclusive, and the causes are not presented in order of likelihood. The causes of this symptom can include unlikely diseases and medications. Furthermore, the causes may vary based on age and gender of the affected person, as well as on the specific characteristics of the symptom such as time course, aggravating factors, relieving factors, and associated complaints. Use the Symptom Analysis option to explore the possible explanations for excessive gas, occurring alone or in combination with other problems.

Home Care:
Intestinal gas may transiently increase after starting a high-fiber diet. The condition usually disappears without changing the diet.

For gas due to swallowing air, eat slower, avoid gum chewing, and try to relax.

Otherwise, follow prescribed therapy for treating the underlying cause.

Call Your Healthcare Provider If:

• the gas or flatus is persistent.
• the gas is accompanied by other unexplained symptoms (such as pain or weight loss ).

What to Expect:
The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.

Medical history questions documenting excessive gas in detail may include:

• eating habits
  • What foods are commonly eaten?
  • What foods have been recently eaten?
  • How fast do you eat, chew, and swallow?
  • Have you changed your diet recently?
  • Have you recently increased the fiber in your diet?

• quality
  • Is it mild or severe?

• aggravating factors
  • Does it occur after ingestion of milk products?
  • Does it occur only after ingestion of other foods? Which?

• relieving factors
  • Is it better after withdrawal of milk products?
  • Is it better after withdrawal of other foods? Which foods?
  • What home treatment have you tried?
    • How effective was it?

• other
  • What medications are being taken
  • What other symptoms are also present? Especially, is there:
    • abdominal pain
    • diarrhea
    • early satiety (premature fullness after meals)
    • bloating
    • weight loss

The physical examination may include a detailed examination of the abdomen.

Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:

• barium enema X-ray
• barium swallow X-ray
• blood studies such as CBC or blood differential
• cholecystogram X-ray (see gallbladder X-ray )
• sigmoidoscopy

After seeing your health care provider:
You may want to add a diagnosis related to flatulence to your personal medical record.