“What are the symptoms of lactose intolerance?”
My son gets sick almost every time he drinks milk or has anything dairy. But there are times when he's fine consuming either of those things. Is this lactose intolerance?
8 Answers
Lactose intolerance, a common condition, can be mild to severe. In mild cases, patients simply complain of abdominal discomfort after ingesting milk and milk products. In moderate to severe cases, we may see abdominal pain, distension, bloating and diarrhea within a few minutes or within a few hours of having milk and milk products.
Lactose intolerance typically has sensation of bloating, flatulence and Diarrhea. Some people experience abdominal pain as well. See your pediatric gastroenterologist to help understand your child’s symptoms.
Small children can have belly pain, vomiting, or diarrhea. Older adolescents usually just have bloating and diarrhea. It is a dose-dependent reaction, so small amounts of lactose, which is milk sugar, are well tolerated, but larger doses are not. If your son can tolerate Lactaid milk, but not regular milk, it could be lactose intolerance.
Typically lactose intolerance will cause problems with any and all intake of dairy or any food containing the sugar lactose. Symptoms will include a lot of bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting. It sounds like your son may have more of a sensitivity to dairy rather than a true lactose intolerance. Perhaps a trial off of dairy may help with his symptoms.
There is different threshold for the amount of dairy consumed to cause symptoms in lactose intolerance depending on the degree of lactase enzyme deficiency. The enzyme that breaks lactose in the intestine.
Other causes of secondary lactose intolerance such as celiac disease and Crohn's disease need be evaluated by your Pediatric Gastroenterologist.
Other causes of secondary lactose intolerance such as celiac disease and Crohn's disease need be evaluated by your Pediatric Gastroenterologist.
Likely. Usually lactose intolerance is dose dependent. This means that my lactase enzyme is low, so maybe I can tolerate 1 pizza slice or scoop of ice cream but beyond that I am having abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea. Have him take a lactaid pill when eating dairy to see if that helps.
Your son might have lactose intolerance. Patients with lactose intolerance may tolerate limited amount of lactose in their diet. If Lactose consumption exceeds certain limits, they will have symptoms.
True lactose intolerance is a lack of the lactase enzyme to digest the primary sugar in milk products. If you are lacking the enzyme you are always lacking it. Therefore, it would occur any time you take enough of the dairy product.
