Normally, yeasts in the digestive system produce alcohol and other substances by fermenting sugars from foods. However, in people with Auto-Brewery Syndrome, this process is extremely accelerated and the yeasts in the digestive system produce more alcohol than normal. As a result, even when a person normally consumes foods containing carbohydrates, his body begins to produce alcohol. Auto-Brewery Syndrome is a rare but life-affecting medical condition.
What is Auto-Brewery?
The definition of Auto-Brewery syndrome is simply that the person’s body produces alcohol on its own. If we look at what Auto-Brewery syndrome is, this syndrome is a rare medical condition. Even though the person does not actually consume alcohol, his body causes it to produce alcohol on its own. This condition occurs as a result of excessive growth of microorganisms such as yeast and fungi in the digestive system. These microorganisms ferment carbohydrates and produce ethanol, which harms the body. We can give the following answer to the question of what causes Auto-Brewery syndrome:
- Disruption of the balance of bacterial and fungal flora in the digestive system
- Use of some antibiotics
- Chronic diseases such as diabetes
- Intestinal surgeries
- High carbohydrate diet
Diagnosis of this syndrome; It is done according to clinical symptoms, blood tests and breath test results. “What are the symptoms of Auto-Brewery syndrome?” For the question, the symptoms of Auto-Brewery syndrome are:
- feeling drunk
- loss of balance
- dizziness
- Stomach ache
- Nausea and vomiting
- speech disorder
- Memory and concentration problems
- sleep problems
- mood changes
Is Auto-Brewery syndrome contagious?
Auto-Brewery Syndrome is not contagious. This syndrome occurs as a result of the overgrowth of microorganisms in the person’s own digestive system and cannot be transmitted to another person.
How to cure Auto-Brewery syndrome?
Auto-Brewery Syndrome is a rare but life-affecting medical condition. This condition highlights digestive disorders that cause the body to produce alcohol and can be managed with proper diagnosis and treatment. With treatment, symptoms can be controlled and quality of life can be improved. The treatment plan is prepared individually. Auto-Brewery syndrome is treated as follows:
- Changing your diet and reducing carbohydrate and sugar intake.
- Antifungal medications may be prescribed to suppress fungal overgrowth.
- Probiotics can be used to restore the balance of the intestinal flora.
- Other medical treatments may be used.
Has Auto-Brewery syndrome been seen in Turkey?
Auto-Brewery syndrome was seen in a woman in Giresun. In other words, a case of Auto-Brewery syndrome was diagnosed in a woman in Giresun in 2023, according to known records in Turkey. After the first case in Giresun, several more cases were reported in Turkey. These cases were seen in different cities and different age groups.