lactose intolerance in older children and adults can be detected by using the lactose tolerance test or the lactose hydrogen breath test. the lactose tolerance and lactose hydrogen breath tests are not given to infants and very young children who are suspected of having lactose intolerance because they require cooperation for multiple samplings of blood or breath which can be difficult if the infant or child is not cooperative. the dose of lactose that is needed for the lactose tolerance and hydrogen breath tests also may present problems for infants and very young children since if they are intolerant of lactose they may develop diarrhea and become dehydrated. special masks have been developed for infants and very young children that can make the sampling of breath for the lactose hydrogen breath test easier to perform.
how does testing for lactose intolerance differ in adults?