A 25-year-old woman presents with bloating, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea that typically occur about an hour after she consumes dairy products. She is otherwise healthy. What is a potential diagnosis and next steps?
This patient's symptoms suggest lactose intolerance, a condition where the body lacks sufficient lactase, the enzyme needed to digest lactose, a sugar found in dairy products. To confirm the diagnosis, a lactose tolerance test or a hydrogen breath test can be ordered. If she is lactose intolerant, the main treatment would be dietary modification to avoid or reduce intake of lactose-containing foods.