Hydrogen Breath Test

Why it is needed?

It is used to investigate:

• Small bowel bacterial overgrowth
• Sugar intolerance or malabsoption (fructose/lactose/sucrose)

Children with bowel symptoms such as abdominal bloating, diarrhoea, excessive flatulence, abdominal pain, burping and halitosis may have sugar intolerances or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.

What preparation do I need?

Patient is required to clean teeth prior to the test. He or she will need to be fasted for 12 hours prior to the testing. If the breath test is scheduled for 9am, Patient cannot take any food or drink from 9pm the night before. You will need to brush your teeth 2 hours before the test to minimise or remove oral hydrogen producing bacteria.. No food before and during the test (except water) is allowed. Patient should avoid food such as onions, leeks, beans, cabbages, chewing gums and laxatives. Patient should not have antibiotics four weeks prior to the breath test. Proton pump inhibitors should be stopped a week before the test and medicine such as H2 antagonist (ranitidine) may be given until 12 hours before the test. Laxatives will need to be stopped 5 days before the test.

Is there any risk?

The test is very safe and non-invasive. Patients may experience abdominal cramps, excessive flatulence and drirrhoea during or shortly after the breath test.