What is Dysbiosis?

Dysbiosis is an imbalance within a community of microorganisms living together — a microbiome.

What is Dysbiosis?
Table of Contents

About Dysbiosis:

  • Dysbiosis is an imbalance within a community of microorganisms living together — a microbiome.
  • Our bodies are host to several distinct microbiomes — communities of microorganisms that live with us and assist us in various ways.
  • A balanced microbiome is one where there’s a healthy diversity of microorganisms, where no single bacteria, virus or fungus dominates. 
  • Dysbiosis means there’s alack of diversity and balance. When they’re imbalanced, it changes how they function in your body.
  • Dysbiosis typically occurs when the bacteria in your gastrointestinal (GI) tract — which includes your stomach and intestines — become unbalanced.
  • Cause: It can arise from infections, antibiotic use, or some aspects of a person’s diet.
  • How does dysbiosis affect us?
    • In any microbiome, a lack of diversity and balance can pave the way for one type of microorganism to take over.
    • Dysbiosis makes us more vulnerable to infections from germs living inside and outside of our bodies.
    • It can also interfere with other important services that our microbiomes normally provide for us. 
  • Symptoms: Though it is sometimes asymptomatic, dysbiosis may manifest in abdominal pain, bloating, and vomiting.
  • Dysbiosis is also common on your skin. It can be caused by exposure to harmful bacteria or an overgrowth of a single type of bacteria.
  • Treatment:
    • The main premise of treatment is to increase gut microbiome biodiversity. Scientists have developed several ways of treating dysbiosis, including:
  • Fecal microbiota transplantation
  • Probiotic therapy
  • Microbial metabolic pathway therapy
    • If an underlying disease or condition causes it, you’ll need specific treatment for that condition.

Q1: What are antibiotics?

Antibiotics are medicines that fight bacterial infections in people and animals. They work by killing the bacteria or by making it hard for the bacteria to grow and multiply.

Source: Hidden dangers of irrational use of antibiotics on microbiome

Update Icon
Latest UPSC Exam 2026 Updates

Date IconLast updated on Sep, 2026

UPSC 2027 Notification will be released on 13 January 2027 at upsconline.nic.in.

→ Check out the latest UPSC Syllabus here.

→ Download UPSC Model Answers for Mains 2026

UPSC Mains Question Paper 2026 is out now for Essay & GS Paper 1, 2, 3 & 4.

UPSC Calendar 2027 has been released.

→ Enroll in Vajiram & Ravi’s UPSC Mains Test Series 2027 for structured answer writing practice, expert evaluation, and exam-oriented feedback.

→ Join Vajiram & Ravi’s UPSC Mentorship Program 2027 for personalized guidance, strategy planning, and one-to-one support from experienced mentors.

→ Go through the UPSC Mains Previous Year Papers to enhance your preparation.

→ UPSC has released UPSC Toppers List 2025 with the Civil Services final result on its official website.

→ Also check Best UPSC Coaching in India

Vajiram Content Team
At Vajiram & Ravi, our team includes subject experts who have appeared for the UPSC Mains and the Interview stage. With their deep understanding of the exam, they create content that is clear, to the point, reliable, and helpful for aspirants.Their aim is to make even difficult topics easy to understand and directly useful for your UPSC preparation—whether it’s for Current Affairs, General Studies, or Optional subjects. Every note, article, or test is designed to save your time and boost your performance.
UPSC GS Course 2027
UPSC GS Course 2027
₹1,80,000
Enroll Now
GS Foundation Course 2 Yrs
GS Foundation Course 2 Yrs
₹2,45,000
Enroll Now
UPSC Mentorship Program
UPSC Mentorship Program
₹65000
Enroll Now
UPSC Sureshot Mains Test Series
UPSC Sureshot Mains Test Series
₹27000
Enroll Now
Prelims Powerup Test Series
Prelims Powerup Test Series
₹14000
Enroll Now
Enquire Now