Is lactose intolerance implicated in the development of post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome or functional diarrhoea in previously asymptomatic people?

Abstract

Bacterial gastroenteritis did not cause persistent lactose intolerance in our study population. Lactose intolerance does not appear to be implicated in the aetiology of post-infectious bowel symptoms, including IBS. Advice to avoid dairy products in patients presenting with post-infectious IBS on the basis that they may have lactose intolerance appears unnecessary in patients from northern England.