All Austrian Health Insurance Funds & Private
Group-Practice Internist-Nord.at
Syeda | Gregor | Kowatschitsch | Al Bahloul
Sopira | Pakzad | Promintzer-Schifferl | Wehinger
Specialists for Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Diabetology and Hepatology
Food Intolerance in Vienna at our Group-Practice
Digestive issues such as abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea can have various causes. Often, they are due to irritable bowel syndrome or functional dyspepsia—conditions where routine examinations reveal no organic abnormalities and pose no serious health risks.
In some cases, however, the cause may be a food intolerance that can be improved with simple dietary measures. Hydrogen (H2) breath tests are a useful tool for diagnosing such intolerances.
H2 Breath Tests
The H2 breath test is used to diagnose sugar intolerances (e.g., lactose intolerance, fructose intolerance, sorbitol intolerance) or bacterial overgrowth in the upper small intestine.
The glucose H2 breath test evaluates bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine. This condition can lead to various food intolerances. If bacterial overgrowth is diagnosed, treatment usually involves antibiotics
Procedure
During the H2 breath test, the patient drinks a sugar solution, such as lactose (milk sugar), and exhales into a device at regular intervals. This device, similar to a police alcohol tester, measures the hydrogen (H2) content in the exhaled air at specific time intervals.
The principle is that undigested sugar is metabolized by bacteria in the lower, or in cases of bacterial overgrowth, the upper parts of the intestine. This releases hydrogen, which is then exhaled.
The test results, along with any symptoms reported by the patient, help determine whether there is malabsorption or an impaired ability to digest the specific sugar substance.
The costs of breath tests for diagnosing food intolerances are not covered by health insurance and are therefore private services.
Download: Preparation for H2 Breath Test
