Breath tests at GI Care for Kids
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all you had to do for your doctor to discover what’s wrong is to drink something and breathe into a bag? At GI Care for Kids, we can do that!
Why should I have a GI breath test?
Identify the Presence of H. Pylori
If a child or teen has sharp pains in the top part of their stomach or if it is tender in that area, a bacteria called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) may be the cause. A quick 30-minute breath test can often discover the presence of that particular bacteria, as long as the child hasn’t been on antibiotics or acid blockers for the previous 2 weeks. The test can then be repeated several months later to make sure the bacteria is no longer present after treatment has been completed.
How Is a GI Breath Test Performed?
The breath tests are performed by giving a child a particular fluid to drink and then having him or her blow into a bag that collects their breath. The breath samples are then chemically analyzed to provide a result.
The H. pylori test requires a single sample and only takes a few minutes.
Things to Know
- Breath tests should not be performed while your child is on antibiotics or probiotics (or for 2 weeks afterward) because the tests can give false results during that time.
- Acid blockers and acid reducers can produce false results for those having H. pylori testing.
- Results are usually available immediately after the H. pylori test.