Gas - flatulence

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Intestinal gas

Abdominal ultrasound

Overview

Treatment

Gas - flatulence

Definition:

Gas, also called flatus or flatulence, is air in the intestine that is passed through the rectum. Air that is passed from the digestive tract through the mouth is called belching.

Alternative Names:

Flatulence (flatus)

Considerations:

Gas is formed in the intestines as food is being digested. Gas can make you feel bloated, which may cause crampy or colicky abdominal pain.

Common Causes:

Gas can be caused by any of the following:

Swallowing air while eating.
Eating foods that are difficult to digest, such as fiber. If you recently introduced fiber into your diet, having gas may be temporary. Give it a little time. Your body may adjust and stop producing gas.
Eating foods that you cannot tolerate -- for example, if you have lactose intolerance and eat dairy products.
Irritable bowel syndrome -- a chronic form of stomach upset that gets worse from stress.
Malabsorption (when your body cannot absorb or digest a particular nutrient properly, often accompanied by diarrhea).
Antibiotics.

References:

Birrer RB. Irritable bowel syndrome. Dis Mon. 2002; 48(2): 105-143.

Lovelace HY. Diagnosis, symptoms, and calcium intakes of individuals with self-reported lactose intolerance. J Am Coll Nutr. 2005; 24(1): 51-57.

Andrès E. Food-cobalamin malabsorption in the elderly. Am J Med. 2002; 113(4): 351-352.

Review Date: 5/8/2006
Reviewed By: Jenifer K. Lehrer, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Frankford-Torresdale Hospital, Jefferson Health System, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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