title: [Gastroenterological function tests in the GP's office].
abstract: Breath tests are quick, noninvasive, simple to perform and reliable. In particular in patients with diarrhea, bloating, nausea and uncharacteristic abdominal symptoms, the H2 breath test is highly useful. Using this procedure, malabsorption of various different carbohydrates, the absorptive performance of the upper abdominal tract, the orocecal transit time, or bacterial overgrowth in the small bowel, can be determined. Using 24-hour pH-metry, the acidity in the stomach and esophagus can be measured, and reflux disease, for example, diagnosed. Today, elevated fat in the stool is detected on the basis of the beta carotene level in the serum. Further function tests for the detection of pancreatic insufficiency, such as the determination of fecal pancreatic elastase, are also available.
authors.affiliation: Klinikum Salzgitter GmbH. h.jablonowski@klinikum-salzgitter.de
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jablonowski
mesh_terms: D001944:Breath Tests / Q000379:methods; D003248:Constipation / Q000175:diagnosis; D003938:Diagnostic Techniques, Digestive System; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000175:diagnosis; D050782:Esophageal pH Monitoring; D005194:Family Practice; D005243:Feces / Q000201:enzymology; D005745:Gastric Acidity Determination; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000175:diagnosis; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008286:Malabsorption Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000032:analysis; D010186:Pancreatic Function Tests; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D019207:beta Carotene; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase