Report from the LI Conference, part 7

The sensitivity of our insides means that diarrhea is a symptom of about a zillion causes. Some of them may be food related, some may be from diseases. If you go a doctor, he or she has to sort through your entire pattern of symptoms to make a proper diagnosis.

Clinical Presentation and Approach: But What if It Is Not Lactose Intolerance?
Lin Chang, M.D.
Codirector
Center for Neurobiology of Stress
Professor of Medicine
David Geffen School of Medicine
University of California, Los Angeles

Dr. Chang had a handy chart to show the common disorders that can be confused with or for lactose intolerance.

That's not six disorders. That's six entire classes of disorders that have to be sorted through.

I don't diagnose people myself, but it's apparent that many of those who write to me don't have lactose intolerance but something else entirely. It's the doctor's job to figure out what, but you can see that's not always the easiest decision to make.