Lactose and Fructose Intolerance in Turkish Children with Chronic Abdominal Pain.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prevalence of lactose and fructose intolerance in children with chronic abdominal pain.

METHODS

Hydrogen breath tests were done to detect lactose and fructose malabsorption in 86 children with chronic abdominal pain (44 irritable bowel syndrome, 24 functional abdominal pain and 17 functional abdominal pain syndrome as per Rome III criteria) presenting to a Pediatric Gastroentreology department.

RESULTS

14 (16.3%) of patients were diagnosed with lactose intolerance and 11 (12.8%) with fructose intolerance.

CONCLUSION

Lactose and fructose intolerance in children can lead to chronic abdominal pain and symptoms improve with dietary modifications.