Diagnosis of lactose intolerance through the quantification of hydrogen in exhaled air.

Considerations are made on diarrhea secondary to intestinal malabsorption of carbohydrates and on the diagnostic means available in our environment, among which are the reactive strip, the clinitest tablet, tolerance curves and research of intestinal enzymes. The quantification of exhaled hydrogen is mentioned as a diagnostic method, used by several other authors, and a review of the literature on the subject is made. Considerations are made on a hydrogen quantification in the breath of patients with a transitory lactose intolerance. 16 patients were studied, 15 of whom showed an increase in the exhaled H2. 32 children with diarrhea, free from lactose intolerance, were studied. The method used did not show a significant increase in the exhaled hydrogen. 27 patients showed no H2 in their breath. In 4 there was elimination of H2 (false positives). 17 diarrhea-free children were studied. A significant difference was found when comparing the children with diarrhea and lactose intolerance to the other two groups who were free from lactose-intolerance. It is considered that this method can be useful in the diagnosis of intolerance to lactose and other sugars.