[Incidence of lactose malabsorption in the population 6-18 years of age].

Breath test was performed in 664 school-aged children in order to measure lactose malabsorption. The first screening showed that 23.4% of the children evidenced malabsorption of milk sugar. In these children further stool examination for Giardia lamblia infection, and saccharose breath test was performed to identify more complex absorption problems. The remaining 146 children were tested again after a period of 3-9 month and 45.8% of this population showed lactose malabsorption. In conclusion the authors determined that 10.1% of school aged children were permanently hypo- or alactasic. During the examination, they measured the approximate consumption of milk considering the quantity of milk intake showed that the consumption of milk and lactose malabsorption were not closely related normal and abnormal absorption among children who would not normally consume milk.