Differential Diagnosis for Abdominal Pain, Bloating, Nausea, and Diarrhea after Eating Sweet Foods

• Single Most Likely Diagnosis
  • Fructose Malabsorption: This condition occurs when the body is unable to properly absorb fructose, a sugar found in many sweet foods. Symptoms include bloating, gas, abdominal pain, and diarrhea after consuming fructose-containing foods, making it a likely diagnosis given the patient's symptoms.
• Other Likely Diagnoses
  • Lactose Intolerance: Similar to fructose malabsorption, lactose intolerance is the inability to digest lactose, a sugar found in milk and other dairy products, often leading to bloating, diarrhea, and abdominal pain after consumption.
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): While not exclusively triggered by sweet foods, IBS can cause a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms including abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel movements, which could be exacerbated by certain types of food.
  • Sucrose Intolerance: This is a condition where the body lacks the enzyme sucrase, necessary for breaking down sucrose (table sugar) into glucose and fructose for absorption. Symptoms can include bloating, gas, and diarrhea after consuming sucrose.
• Do Not Miss Diagnoses
  • Diabetic Gastroparesis: Although less common, gastroparesis (delayed stomach emptying) in diabetic patients can lead to nausea, vomiting, bloating, and abdominal pain, especially after eating. It's crucial to consider this diagnosis due to its potential for serious complications.
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Conditions like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis can cause chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain, and weight loss. While not directly linked to sweet foods, the symptoms could be exacerbated by certain dietary components.
• Rare Diagnoses
  • Hereditary Fructose Intolerance: A rare genetic disorder where the body lacks the enzyme aldolase B, necessary for metabolizing fructose. Consumption of fructose can lead to severe symptoms, including vomiting, seizures, and even death in infants.
  • Glucose-Galactose Malabsorption: A rare congenital disorder characterized by the inability to absorb glucose and galactose, leading to severe diarrhea from infancy. Though rare, it's an important consideration in infants presenting with these symptoms.