BREATH TEST: GOOD NEWS FOR THE GASTROENTEROLOGIST

Key words: Breath test, Lactose intolerance, Helicobacter pylori

Indications and ongoing research on breath test are rewiewed. H2- and 13Cbreath test are both increasingly used in paediatric gastroenterology. In current clinical practice the main indication for H2 -BT is lactose intolerance, while 13C-BT is currently used only for diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection. Available evidence on new indications (small bowel bacterial overgrowth and research in clinical nutrition) are also presented and discussed. Breth test technology is relatively simple, non-invasive, safe and accurate. Therefore their use schould be encouraged.