Baby Has Been Eating Formula for Lactose Intolerance Still Gets Diarreah

By: Anthony Porto, Dr., MPH, FAAP

It tin be difficult to know whether your infant or kid is having symptoms of lactose intolerance or whether he or she may have a milk allergy.

The following frequently asked questions from parents will aid you lot learn more virtually the common symptoms of lactose intolerance, diagnosis, and handling options.

Is lactose intolerance the same thing equally a milk allergy?

No. Many parents confuse the terms lactose intolerance and milk allergy . While they may share similar symptoms, they are entirely different conditions. Lactose intolerance is a digestive problem, while milk allergy involves the immune system. So, while lactose intolerance can cause a dandy bargain of discomfort, it will not produce a life-threatening reaction such as anaphylaxis.

Milk allergies tend to announced inside the first year of life, while an infant'south digestive arrangement is however quite immature. Lactose intolerance can offset in babyhood into adolescence and can become more noticeable into adulthood.

What is lactose?

Lactose is a sugar institute in foods that many children beloved—milk and dairy products, such as frozen yogurt and cheeses. The list of other foods containing lactose is long and includes some breads, cereals, and frozen or canned foods.

Lactose is broken down by the lactase enzyme located in the small intestine—the organ where almost food digestion and food absorption takes place. When we consume lactose, lactase breaks lactose down into two simple sugars: glucose and galactose. The body then absorbs these simple sugars into our intestines. When in that location is a decrease or loss of the lactase enzyme, we cannot break down or blot lactose. The unabsorbed lactose tin can atomic number 82 to symptoms, which is called an intolerance.

In addition to milk, what other food products comprise lactose?

Lactose is present in many food products and in some medications. Manufacturers also frequently add milk and milk products to boxed, canned, frozen, packaged, and prepared foods. People who have digestive symptoms after consuming a pocket-sized quantity of lactose should be aware of the many food products that may contain fifty-fifty small amounts of lactose.

Y'all can check the ingredients on food labels and the nutrition facts to notice possible sources of lactose in food products. If a food label includes whatsoever of the following words, the product contains lactose:

Milk
Lactose
Whey
Curds
Milk by-products
Dry milk solids
Nonfat dry milk pulverisation

What are some key symptoms of lactose intolerance?

The symptoms of lactose intolerance depend on the amount of lactose that'southward consumed. The more lactose your child consumes, the more symptoms he or she will feel. Symptoms of lactose intolerance can occur within minutes to hours subsequently drinking milk or eating dairy products and range from mild to severe based on the amount consumed and the amount tolerated. Here are symptoms you should look out for:

Nausea
Abdominal pain, cramping, and bloating
Loose stools and gas
Watery diarrhea with gas

If I call up my child might exist lactose intolerant. How can I tell?

One way to check if your child has trouble digesting lactose is to take all the milk products out of your kid's diet for two weeks and to and then come across if his or her symptoms improve. Afterward 2 weeks, slowly reintroduce the products in small amounts each twenty-four hour period to see if symptoms return. Your pediatrician can also test your child for lactose intolerance with a hydrogen breath examination.

I've heard lactose intolerance can sometimes be a temporary side upshot when kids are ill. Is that true?

Yes. Lactose intolerance tin can occur temporarily in children later a viral infection (that is why you may be told to avert milk with lactose in it during a stomach bug) or it may exist seen with weather that lead to inflammation of the intestines, such as celiac illness.

Can infants be lactose intolerant?

Lactose intolerance is actually not very common in infants and typically only starts showing upwards later age three in children who were built-in full-term. All babies are born with lactase in their intestines. As they abound older, the lactase enzyme decreases.

Babies who were born premature are more than likely to take a type of lactose intolerance chosen developmental lactase deficiency. This condition usually lasts only for a brusk time after birth. However, the bulk of premature infants will be able to consume lactose-containing formula and chest milk.
Congenital lactase deficiency is a very rare disorder in which babies tin can't pause downwardly the lactose in breast milk or formula. Genes inherited from parents crusade this disorder. This type of intolerance results in severe diarrhea, and if not fed a lactose-free baby formula, those babies could develop severe aridity and weight loss.

If a mother is lactose intolerant, is information technology prophylactic for her to breastfeed her babe?

It's perfectly safe to breastfeed your child if yous're lactose intolerant. Breastfeeding does not put your baby at greater risk of condign lactose intolerant, and it has important wellness benefits for your baby.

How tin my child get enough calcium in her nutrition if milk or lactose are reduced?

If your child has lactose intolerance, he or she tin still consume lactose-gratis dairy products including lactose-free milk, cheese, and yogurts—all are expert sources of calcium. In improver, your child can get calcium from nighttime green leafy vegetables such as spinach, broccoli and kale, nuts (almonds), beans (white beans), fish (sardines, salmon) and calcium-fortified orangish juice. If you feel your child is non getting enough calcium, talk with your pediatrician about starting a calcium supplement.

Are soy or almond milks acceptable substitutes for children who are lactose intolerant?

There are many milk substitutes that a child with lactose intolerance can drink, including soy, almond, rice, hemp, and oat milk. Soy milk is a popular milk alternative, because it is a good source of calcium and protein. Almond milk has likewise become a popular alternative and is safe for children with lactose intolerance or a cow's milk protein allergy. Although almond is a good source of calcium, it is lower in poly peptide and contains fewer calories than cow's milk. Before starting whatsoever alternative milks, it is important to talk with your pediatrician about which may be all-time for your child.

How is lactose intolerance diagnosed?

Your pediatrician will take a medical, family, and diet history to assist diagnose lactose intolerance in your babe or child. During this discussion, he or she volition review your child'southward symptoms with you.

In some cases, a hydrogen breath test is done to test for lactose intolerance. For the examination, your child breathes into a container that measures breath hydrogen level before and later he or she drinks a beverage that contains a known amount of lactose. Normally, only a small amount of hydrogen is detectable in the breath when a person eats or drinks and digests lactose. An increment in hydrogen levels is considered a positive test for lactose intolerance.
Pediatricians check acidity in the stools of infants and young children who may exist unable to properly do the hydrogen jiff examination. Acidic stool (low pH) may indicate lactose malabsorption. Another stool test (reducing substances) looks for the presence of glucose in the stool, which signifies undigested lactose.
If your kid'southward symptoms persist, he or she may be referred to a pediatric gastroenterologist (GI) for further evaluation. Depending on the severity of your child's symptoms, the GI may perform an endoscopy to measure lactase levels direct from the intestine. This is done with a biopsy.

How much calcium and vitamin D are recommended for my child to eat each day?

The specific corporeality is based on your child'due south historic period. Hither is a breakdown of the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for calcium and vitamin D. Table of RDA for calcium and vitamin D

How is lactose intolerance treated?

How lactose intolerance is treated depends on the extent of your child's symptoms. Some children with lactose intolerance may be able to have small amounts of dairy products without having symptoms.

To help convalesce symptoms if/when your child consumes lactose-containing food, your pediatrician may recommend an over-the-counter lactase enzyme supplement.
If your child's symptoms are severe and warrant removing all lactose from his or her diet, your pediatrician may refer your child to a registered dietitian. Since dairy is a adept source of calcium and vitamin D—which all kids demand—a registered dietitian can suggest other foods to provide those nutrients and may advise vitamin supplements.

Is lactose intolerance a lifelong status?

In some cases, lactose intolerance is temporary—if lactose intolerance develops later a viral illness or if it is associated with other atmospheric condition, like celiac affliction. For case, once celiac affliction is treated, lactase levels can go in the normal range and lactose may exist tolerated in the diet. More than likely, even so, lactose intolerance is long-term and requires many older children and adults to alter their diet to avoid symptoms.

Boosted Information & Resources:

Vitamin D: On the Double
Milk Allergy
Infant Allergies and Food Sensitivities
Lactose Intolerance in Infants, Children and Adolescents (AAP Clinical Report)

Most Dr. Porto:

Anthony Porto, Dr., MPH, FAAP is a board certified pediatrician and board certified pediatric gastroenterologist. He is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Acquaintance Clinical Master of Pediatric Gastroenterology at Yale University and Director, Pediatric Gastroenterology at Greenwich Infirmary in Greenwich, CT. He is also the medical manager of the Yale Pediatric Celiac Program. Within the American University of Pediatrics, Dr. Porto sits on the PREP Gastroenterology Advisory Board and is a member of the Department on Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. He is likewise a member of the North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition's Public Education Committee, a pediatric expert on nutrition for The Bump's Existent Answers, and is the co-author ofThe Pediatrician's Guide to Feeding Babies and Toddlers. Follow him on Instagram @Pediatriciansguide.

The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.

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Source: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/nutrition/Pages/Lactose-Intolerance-in-Children.aspx