What is Dysbiosis?

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

What is Dysbiosis?

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

Latest UPSC Exam 2025 Updates

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