You might have heard the term lactose intolerance thrown around at some point in your life. Whether it was in a TV show or in passing during a conversation, chances are the term is not unfamiliar to you. However, what exactly is lactose intolerance?
For many mamas, they may understand lactose intolerance as not being able to eat things like milk or other dairy products. Some may see it as an allergy of sorts, where having any dairy products may cause indigestion or some form of sickness. This isn’t far from the truth, but that’s only a part of what it really is.
Lactose intolerance isn’t something that’s entirely uncommon. However, not a lot of mamas know what it really is. Fortunately, this article aims to help give you a little more information on what this illness is. We’ll also help you learn more about what signs and symptoms come with lactose intolerance and what you can do about it in case you think that your little one may have it. So, if you want to learn more, read on!
The Dose On Lactose
Lactose is a type of sugar that is found in breastmilk, dairy milk such as that from cows, and other dairy-containing products. It’s something that occurs naturally in these milk and milk byproducts. Much like other sugars your body consumes, lactose is something that can aid in growth and development—this is especially true for babies. This is because lactose gets broken down into glucose and galactose, which are some raw materials that your body will need in its various functions.
The Down-Low on Lactose Intolerance
From the name alone, you can tell what lactose intolerance is. It’s your body’s inability to be able to digest—or tolerate—lactose. So, this means, any products that contain lactose will not be properly digested.
Lactose intolerance typically happens because people lack the enzyme called lactase, which is responsible for the breakdown of lactose. This lack of lactase may be caused by several reasons, such as being unable to produce these enzymes. In babies, this is called a congenital lactase deficiency. Sometimes, your body may also be able to produce lactase, but then produce less and less as time goes on. This is called lactase non-persistence.
In other cases, lactose intolerance may happen because of an infection in the gastrointestinal tract. In children, this would be due to repeated infections caused by viruses like the rotavirus. These infections damage your intestines and make it harder for your body to absorb the various nutrients that go through it—lactose included.
Signs and Symptoms
Lactose intolerance and its signs and symptoms may vary depending on when your child may have it. Common symptoms in children would be feeling gassy, experiencing crampy stomach pains, bloating, diarrhea, and frequent tummy rumbling. Among these, diarrhea would happen to be one of the most common symptoms.
When it comes to diarrhea, a child with lactose intolerance may have stools that have certain characteristics specific to the illness. Their stools may be bulky, frothy, and also very watery. If this is the case with your child, you might want to start thinking about lactose intolerance
If you have an older child, it would be easier to keep track of these symptoms as they’ll be able to communicate what they feel. You’ll also at least be able to elicit the occurrence of certain symptoms, such as what their stools are like, how their stomach pain feels, or if they’re gassy. However, when it comes to babies, this may be more difficult.
In the case of babies, you’ll also have to look out for other signs and symptoms that may lead to you to believe they have lactose intolerance. These may include things like them being extra cranky and irritable. They may also have trouble trying to settle down. Little to no weight gain is also another sign. One other symptom characteristic of lactose intolerance in babies would be a nappy rash. This rash presents as very red areas, sometimes with some bits and pieces of skin peeling. These rashes would usually take up the areas where their stools are in their soiled diapers.
What Do I Do?
It’s worth noting that the presence of these signs and symptoms may not always mean that your little one has lactose intolerance. However, if you notice that your baby or young child may have these symptoms and they become more frequent, it’s a sign for you to go to the doctor. The doctor may then start to run some tests to further assess your child’s condition. In some cases, they might also try and see if these symptoms disappear when you remove lactose-containing foods from their diet.
Once a diagnosis of lactose intolerance is ruled in, your child’s doctor may then start recommending changes in their diet. Typically, this would involve your child avoiding foods with high lactose content, such as certain types of milks, cheeses, and other dairy products. If you’ve got a newborn to nurse, they may not necessarily recommend you stop breastfeeding. The doctor may, however, recommend supplementing this feeding with baby formula.
Whatever the case, there’s no need to worry. While lactose intolerance may not be present in a lot of people, it’s something that happens. As such, it’s very easy to manage. You just need to catch it right away so that you can find the solution as soon as possible. So, if your little one may be exhibiting any of the signs and symptoms mentioned in this article, it may be time for you to see their pedia as soon as possible!
