Frequência de intolerância à lactose e sua apresentação clínica em pacientes do ambulatório de gastroenterologia pediátrica do Hospital Universitário da Universidade Federal de Sergipe

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To describe the most common clinical manifestations of laboratory-diagnosedpatients with lactose intolerance (IL), age at onset of symptoms, associated gastroenteropathy,and whether there is a relationship between the manifestations of IL and the gender of the patient or his or her age group. METHODS: This was a descriptive, observational, retrospective, documentary study by the medical records of patients with symptoms suggestive of IL who underwent the Oral Tolerance Lactose Test (TTOL). RESULTS: 23 patients were included in the study, with abdominal pain (18), diarrhea (15), vomiting (11), low stature weight gain (3), abdominal distension (13), perianal dermatitis (4), weight (3) and flatulence (3). The TTOL was positive for 60.9% (14) of the patients, being 8 females and 6 males. The symptoms of lactose intolerance related to test positivity were abdominal pain (78.6%), abdominal distension (57.1%), diarrhea (64.3%), vomiting (46.8%), perianal dermatitis (28.6%), weight loss (21.4%). The 14 patients with positive test had baseline disease: parasitism (6), food allergy (2), gastroesophageal reflux disease (1), chronic colitis (1), juvenile polyposis syndrome (1). No statistically significant differences were observed between the clinical manifestations and the sex or age of the patients. CONCLUSION: Half of the patients started the symptoms of lactose intolerance up to 4 years of age and the main clinical manifestations were abdominal pain, diarrhea, abdominal distension and vomiting.