A meal should not leave you regularly worrying about stomach pain, bloating or nausea. If symptoms keep coming back, it can be tempting to blame a particular food. But different causes need different tests—and the right first step is to speak with a healthcare professional.

Could it be a reaction to food?

Keep a note of what you eat, when symptoms begin and what happens next. This information can help your healthcare professional decide whether a specific food allergy test or another assessment is appropriate. Broad “food sensitivity” IgG panels are not recommended for diagnosing food allergies or intolerances.

Could it be H. pylori?

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacterium that can infect the stomach and is one possible cause of ulcers. If your symptoms suggest it, a healthcare professional may recommend an H. pylori stool antigen test or a urea breath test. These are different from food allergy tests.

Testing can help guide treatment. If you have already been treated for H. pylori, your clinician may also recommend a follow-up test to check whether the infection has cleared.

Take the next step

Do not keep guessing about recurring stomach symptoms.

Speak with your healthcare professional about what you are experiencing and which test, if any, is right for you.

Contact Cerba Lancet Rwanda to ask about available testing, sample collection and how to prepare.

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