Understanding the cause of your child’s abdominal discomfort is essential for getting your child the right treatment to alleviate symptoms. At Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition of Dr. Erena Treskova, the board-certified pediatric gastroenterologist, Erena Treskova, MD, performs the hydrogen breath test. The practice offers the in-office test to confirm or rule out conditions such as bacterial overgrowth or lactose intolerance. To learn more about the diagnostic test, call one of the offices in Wayne, New Jersey, or Middletown, New York, or book online while you’re here on the website.
request an appointmentWhat is a hydrogen breath test?
The hydrogen breath test measures the amount of hydrogen in your child’s breath. Normally, children breathe out very little hydrogen.
However, if your child can’t digest certain types of foods or has an overabundance of bacteria in the small intestines, then their breath may contain higher-than-normal levels of hydrogen.
Why would my child need a hydrogen breath test?
There are many reasons why your child may benefit from a hydrogen breath test. Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition of Dr. Erena Treskova is a full-service pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition practice, and they offer many noninvasive tests to better understand the underlying causes of your child’s digestive symptoms.
Your child may benefit from a hydrogen breath test to confirm or rule out:
Lactose intolerance
Lactose is the primary carbohydrate found in cow’s milk. If your child’s digestive system doesn’t produce enough of the enzyme lactase, which is needed to break down lactose, they may experience abdominal pain, gas, and diarrhea.
Carbohydrate malabsorption disorder
With a carbohydrate malabsorption disorder, your child may not be able to absorb the primary carbohydrates in the diet, such as fructose or starches, which may lead to watery stools.
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
Most of the bacteria in your child’s digestive system is located in the large intestine. However, if your child has an excessive amount of bacteria in the small intestine, a condition called SIBO, your child may experience abdominal pain, gas, bloating, or diarrhea.
Over time, the bacteria may damage your child’s small intestine and cause malabsorption of nutrients that may affect growth and development.
How do I prepare my child for a hydrogen breath test?
Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition of Dr. Erena Treskova provides specific instructions on the steps your child needs to take to prepare for their hydrogen breath test.
Your child may be asked to not eat certain types of foods and not take antibiotics for a few days prior to the test and then asked not to eat or drink a few hours before the test.
What happens during a hydrogen breath test?
Your child’s hydrogen breath test is conducted at the office. First part for bacterial overgrowth consists of breathing into a tube on an empty stomach. Before the lactose intolerance test, your child will be instructed to consume lactose containing drink. Similar evaluation can be done for fructose intolerance.
The samples of your child’s breath are then analyzed to assess hydrogen levels, which can indicate malabsorption of carbohydrates or SIBO.
What happens after the hydrogen breath test?
The doctor at Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition of Dr. Erena Treskova reviews the results of your child’s hydrogen breath test at a follow-up visit and provides recommendations specific to your child’s needs.
The practice takes an integrated approach to care and offers traditional medical treatments, as well as alternative therapies, to improve your child’s gastrointestinal health without creating unpleasant side effects.
To schedule your child’s hydrogen breath test, call Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition of Dr. Erena Treskova to make an appointment through the online tool or register with the office for portal access today.