title: Lactose Breath Test in Children: Relationship Between Symptoms During the Test and Test Results.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lactose malabsorption affects 70% of the world population. The hydrogen breath test (HBT) is used clinically to test for this condition. The aim of our study was to describe the relationship between symptoms experienced before and during the HBT and test results.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included children who underwent the HBT in the pediatric gastroenterology unit at Dana-Dwek Children's Hospital during a 6-month period. Previous symptoms and those experienced before and after the HBT were assessed using a questionnaire and a validated pain scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-five children were included in the study, and 66.3% had a positive HBT. Diarrhea and flatulence during the test were significantly more frequent in the group with a positive HBT compared to those with a negative test (31.7% vs. 9.4%, P = 0.016 and 69.8% vs. 40.6%, P = 0.006, respectively). The frequency of abdominal pain and bloating was similar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diarrhea and flatulence during the HBT are the most specific symptoms of lactose intolerance. Abdominal pain should not be automatically attributed to lactose intolerance even in the presence of lactose malabsorption. Coupling the HBT with a real-time questionnaire facilitates interpretation of results and subsequent recommendations.
authors: Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Dana-Dwek Children Hospital, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.|Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Dana-Dwek Children's Hospital, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors: Miguel
authors: M
authors: Glatstein
authors: Pediatric Gastroenterology Unit, Dana-Dwek Children's Hospital Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors: Shimon
authors: S
authors: Reif
authors: Divisions of Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Pediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Dennis
authors: D
authors: Scolnik
authors: Pediatric Gastroenterology Unit, Dana-Dwek Children's Hospital Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors: Liat
authors: L
authors: Rom
authors: Pediatric Gastroenterology Unit, Dana-Dwek Children's Hospital Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors: Anat
authors: A
authors: Yerushalmy-Feler
authors: Pediatric Gastroenterology Unit, Dana-Dwek Children's Hospital Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors: Margalit
authors: M
authors: Dali-Levy
authors: Pediatric Gastroenterology Unit, Dana-Dwek Children's Hospital Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors: Shlomi
authors: S
authors: Cohen
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D000293:Adolescent; D001944:Breath Tests / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005414:Flatulence / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007785:Lactose / Q000378:metabolism*; D007787:Lactose Intolerance / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D007785:Lactose