By pediatric gastroenterologist Kadakkal Radhakrishnan, MD
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
If
an ice cream treat or a glass of milk leaves your child complaining of an upset
stomach, you might wonder if lactose intolerance is to blame.
Children
who are lactose intolerant don’t produce enough lactase, a natural enzyme in
the digestive tract that breaks down lactose. In order to pinpoint if your
child has this issue, it’s important to be aware of the signs and symptoms.
How lactose intolerance works
Lactose
is a sugar found in foods that many children love, including milk, ice cream
and soft cheeses. It’s also present in some baked goods, salad dressings,
sauces, candy and other foods you might not expect. Breast milk and infant
formulas contain lactose, too.
Lactose
is made up of two simple sugar molecules — glucose and galactose. In order for
it to be absorbed by the body, lactose has to be split into its two components
by an enzyme called lactase, which is found in the lining of the
small intestine.
But for those who are lactose intolerant, the activity of lactase is ineffective, and it’s unable to digest and absorb lactose in the small intestine. The lactose then passes into the large intestine, where it is fermented by gut bacteria. This process produces carbon dioxide and hydrogen, as well as certain byproducts that have a laxative effect.
Signs your child is lactose intolerant
If
your child is intolerant, the more lactose he or she consumes, the more
symptoms he or she will experience.
Here are some symptoms you should watch out for, especially after your child eats dairy products:
- Loose stools and gas, especially when your child eats dairy products.
- Watery diarrhea with gas.
- Stomach bloating, gas and nausea.
- Skin rash and frequent colds.
- Generalized abdominal pain and cramping.
Parents sometimes confuse lactose intolerance with milk allergy. Although the two have similar symptoms, they are very different conditions. A milk allergy is a serious immune system reaction that usually appears in the first year of life. Lactose intolerance is a digestive issue that is rarely seen in infants or toddlers.
Lactose intolerance symptoms can start in late childhood or adolescence, and can become more noticeable into adulthood.
Aside from the discomfort associated with these symptoms, lactose intolerance is a nonthreatening disorder with no long-term complications. Symptoms can be avoided by limiting certain foods in your child’s diet.
How lactose intolerance develops
Lactose
intolerance can develop in three different ways:
Acquired lactose intolerance
Lactase activity in the small intestine naturally declines after infancy. The National Institutes of Health estimates that as many as two-thirds of people aren’t able to fully digest lactose beyond childhood.
Primary lactase deficiency
Rarely, babies are born with a complete absence of the lactase enzyme. These babies develop severe diarrhea while on breast milk, forcing them to require special formulas. This is a recessive trait, so the baby must acquire one abnormal gene from each parent to have the symptoms.
Secondary lactose intolerance
Someone can develop a temporary intolerance after an infection that causes irritation of the digestive tract, such as rotavirus or giardiasis. Patients often first have nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, then continue to have diarrhea when consuming lactose-containing foods for some time after the infection has cleared.
Celiac disease, a digestive disorder that causes damage to the small intestine when gluten is ingested, can also be associated with temporary lactose intolerance. Those with celiac disease can tolerate lactose-containing foods once the intestinal lining heals after going on a strict gluten-free diet. Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory disorder of the bowel, also can be associated with lactose intolerance. This often improves once adequate treatment is in place.
Diagnosis and dietary changes
It’s
quite easy to test for lactose intolerance. It’s done using a lactose breath
test, which measures hydrogen levels in the breath after consuming lactose.
Normally,
very little hydrogen is detected in breath. Raised hydrogen breath levels
indicate the improper digestion of lactose, which could indicate lactose
intolerance. In young children and those who cannot perform the breath
test, strict elimination of lactose-containing food for two to four weeks is
another option.
Although
there is no cure for this digestive problem, some dietary changes can make a
huge difference for your child. I also recommend children with lactose
intolerance take an over-the-counter lactase enzyme supplement if they are
going to eat any lactose-containing foods to help alleviate symptoms. However,
this may not help if consumed with large amounts of lactose-containing foods.
Over
time, you and your child will learn how much dairy-based food and drink he or
she can handle. For patients with significant symptoms, a dietitian can help
identify foods containing lactose.
It is also important to make sure your child still gets enough calcium and vitamin D, since dairy is normally a good source for these nutrients.