Is your child lactose intolerant or allergic to milk?

One thing that every parent is becoming more aware of these days is there allergic reaction to various things – food, drinks, texture, medicine, etc. Kids, especially, tend to develop many types of allergy or intolerance, and most of the time we don’t even realize that the symptoms must be related to it.

What can you read in this article? 

Lactose intolerance Signs of lactose intolerance in babies Treatment to lactose intolerance Lactose intolerance

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So first we should understand the difference between Lactose Intolerance and Lactose Allergy. The terms may sound similar, but they actually describe two different digestive problems, and one is more severe than the other.

Lactose Intolerance: Lactose intolerance is caused by not having enough of the enzyme lactase, which is needed to break down lactose, the sugar found in milk, and other dairy products. Lactose Allergy: Milk allergy is a true food allergy caused by an allergic reaction to the protein in milk. Causes & Symptoms

A definite reason that results in an allergy or intolerance is not yet known. But few are born with this symptom, few experience it while they grow older, few develop it due to another illness of the abdomen and sometimes due to excessive stress.

Diagnosis can be done by observation first to see if your child has a peculiar reaction after a certain dairy product. Then you can try to omit and see if your child still has symptoms. If this persists, consult your pediatrician or go to an allergy specialist.

So what are the symptoms like? Every individual will have a slightly different reaction in both cases. Sometimes kids do end up recovering from lactose intolerance with age. Here we’ve tried to break it down into two columns so that one can get a better understanding and differentiation.

Lactose Intolerance Lactose Allergy The symptoms of lactose intolerance typically occur between 30 minutes and two hours after eating or drinking a milk or dairy product The food allergy reaction to milk can begin within minutes or can be delayed for several hours. It is caused due to a lack of an enzyme Its an immune disorder It has lesser harmful effects and can be taken care with the help of a proper diet. Its effects can get severe, and sometimes even life-threatening if not taken care of. The common symptoms include: bloating, abdominal cramps, diarrhea The common symptoms include: sneezing, wheezing, rash, hives, trouble in breathing or tightness in throat Food that contain Lactose:

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You may only consider milk, ice cream, cheese, yogurt, etc to contain lactose as they are visibly dairy products. But many of your routine food items contain milk, and it is very important to read the nutritional label to make sure that no types of milk products enter your child’s digestive system if they are very sensitive towards it. Here’s a list of food that contains lactose:

Salad dressings Ready-to-eat cereals Few energy drinks Few canned tuna Many instant soups Biscuits and Cookies Cakes Few processed meat Some potato chips, nuts, and flavored tortillas Few chewing gums Alternatives:

Yes, milk is very important for your growing child, but once your child has a confirmed intolerance or allergy, he is bound to get deprived of calcium, vitamin D, and other important nutrients. So it’s best to feed the child more nuts, green leafy vegetables, etc.

For milk, you can try soy milk, almond milk, or brown rice milk. You can also make them at home. For soft cheese, you can try using coconut, soaked cashews, and almonds.

If your child has a milk allergy, you need to read labels and avoid foods that have any dairy, including the ingredients casein, whey, lactulose, lactalbumin, and ghee.

READ MORE:

How I raised my lactose intolerant daughter

5 things you didn’t know about lactose

What moms and dads need to know about lactose intolerance in babies

Signs of lactose intolerance in babies

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If your child has difficulty digesting dairy, it doesn’t necessarily imply they’re lactose intolerant. Something else could be causing their symptoms: Tummy hurts and swells. Inability to settle at feeding times Unable to acquire weight Diarrhea Stomach cramping Bloating Feces that are thick, foamy, and watery Passing gas Irritation

Because babies are unable to communicate, they are unable to express their distress. As a result, it’s not always easy to detect when they’re experiencing gastrointestinal problems.

Symptoms of stomach ache include: clenching fists kicking or lifting legs crying while passing gas arching backs

The stomach of a bloated person may appear significantly larger than usual and feel rough to the touch.

Symptoms that appear 30 minutes to 2 hours after ingesting breast milk, milk-based formula, or solid foods containing dairy are another evidence of lactose intolerance.

Lactose intolerance diagnosis

Lactose intolerant. | Image from Shutterstock

If your child shows signs of lactose intolerance, don’t try to diagnose it yourself. Consult your child’s pediatrician first. They’ll be better at telling the difference between lactose intolerance and milk allergy.

A milk allergy is a form of food allergy in which the immune system reacts negatively to dairy. If your child has a milk allergy, he or she may experience stomach pains and diarrhea. They will, however, experience symptoms that are not associated with a lactose intolerance: Itching wheezing watery eyes Vomiting coughing swelling

Your doctor may refer you to an allergist after ruling out other possible causes of digestive distress. He or she may take a stool sample to check the acidity of your baby’s poop if they don’t have a milk allergy. He or she can also recommend cutting lactose out of their diet for a week or two to see if their digestive troubles improve.

Lactose intolerance in formula fed babies

If your baby is bottle-fed and has lactose sensitivity, your doctor will likely recommend switching to lactose-free formula milk.

Signs of lactose intolerance in breastfed babies

The amount of lactose in breastmilk is largely unaffected by the mother’s lactose consumption. The lactose content of the milk given to the infant when he first begins to feed is very similar to that of the milk given at the end of breastfeeding. However, the milk at the end has a higher fat content.

Lactose intolerance is characterized by watery, occasionally green feces. Medical tests should be positive if a newborn is lactose intolerant.

They are, nevertheless, positive in the majority of normal breastfed babies under the age of three months. As a result, their utility in identifying lactose intolerance in infants is debatable.

Food allergies or intolerances in babies can be passed down through the mother’s breastmilk. In rare situations, removing foods from the mother’s diet that the infant is allergic or intolerant to can be helpful.

Try removing items from your diet because you think your baby has an allergy or intolerance. Consult a nutritionist to help you identify the culprit foods and ensure your diet is nutritionally sufficient for both you and your baby.

Lactase replacement drops, which make it easier for your infant to digest lactose in breast milk, may aid if you’re nursing.

Secondary lactose intolerant baby

Because the enzyme lactase is created at the very tips of the intestine’s tiny folds, any injury to the lining can result in secondary lactose intolerance. Even minor gut damage can wipe out these hints and limit enzyme synthesis.

Secondary lactose intolerance is only temporary as long as the damage to the gut is repaired. The gut will heal if the cause of the damage to the gut is removed, even though the baby is still fed breastmilk.

Lactose intolerance in infants treatment

Lactose intolerant. | Photo by Alex Green from Pexels

Although there is no treatment for this digestive issue, several dietary adjustments can help your child significantly. 

Lactose can be found in a variety of baby-friendly meals, including: Oatmeal Biscuits Pancakes Cookies Instant mashed potatoes Yogurt Ice cream Pudding Cheese To locate likely sources of lactose in food products, look at the components on food labels and the nutrition data. Lactose is present in any of the following food labels: Milk Whey Lactose Milk by-product Dry milk solids Nonfat dry milk powder Consult a doctor

If you suspect your child is having difficulty digesting milk or has lactose intolerance, consult your pediatrician for a diagnosis.

Republished with permission from The Indus Parent

Healthline, Department of Health Australia, Australian Breastfeeding Association, Web MD, Healthy Children

Here at theAsianparent Philippines, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advise or medical treatment. TheAsianparent Philippines is not responsible to those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend to consult your doctor for clearer information.

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