Gastroenterology
Case 32: A Patient with Explosive Diarrhoea
CASE
A 23‐year‐old man is referred to the clinic with ‘explosive diarrhoea’. He has a good appetite but has been frustrated by intermittent postprandial abdominal bloating associated with borborygmi and explosive loose stools. He is otherwise in good health. He is of Chinese extraction but was born and brought up in the UK. He has not returned to Hong Kong in 10 years. He has no significant past medical history and is on no medications. He has had to take time off from his job as a barista in Starbucks because of his symptoms.
Blood tests showed:
Hb 14.5 g/dL WCC 4.2 × 109/L Platelets 400 × 109/L Na 140 mmol/L K 4.5 mmol/L Urea 3.2 mmol/L Creatinine 78 µmol/L Albumin 43 g/L Bilirubin 12 µmol/L ALP 120 U/L ALT 24 U/L
QUESTION 1
Your score this session: 0 of 0
What features in the clinical history might suggest lactose intolerance?