What is lactase deficiency? This is a condition of the body (acquired or congenital) in which the lactase enzyme in the intestine has a weak activity. As a result, lactose (disaccharide, milk sugar) cannot be broken down and absorbed. But it is the most important component for the development of the child’s body in the first month
s life, as it is the main source of energy (gives about 40% of the required amount). Breast milk has a very large concentration of lactose in its composition - about 85%.
If there is lactose deficiency in newborns, the symptoms are rather unpleasant. What is their nature? Lactase is a unique enzyme that has the ability to break down lactose. Enterocytes (cells of intestinal epithelial tissue) help maintain its high activity. If the mucous membrane is damaged, then, therefore, the activity of lactase will be small and the absorption of lactose will be impaired. Then undigested lactose will enter the colon and introduce an imbalance in the microflora. And this will provoke the appearance of unpleasant symptoms of the disease, intoxication of the body with organic acids (methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen), the multiplication of pathogenic flora.
Lactose intolerance can be partial (hypolactasia) or complete (alactasia). It also distinguishes such forms as primary and secondary. In the first case, the pathology is due to a genetic predisposition to the disease, not related to the gender of the child. In the second (it is more common), the reason is the underdevelopment of enzymes of the gastrointestinal tract in premature babies, the use of hormone therapy, antibiotics, intestinal infections, and allergies.
Lactose deficiency in newborns: symptoms
- High degree of gas formation.
- Cramping in the intestines.
- Frequent regurgitation after eating.
- Intestinal cramps (colic).
- Problem stool (defecation): constipation, “foamy” feces.
- Small weight gain.
- Bad dream, tearfulness.
- Delay in psychomotor development.
Lactase deficiency in newborns: treatment
Now the main method of treatment of this pathology is diet therapy. It provides for the exclusion of lactose from the child’s diet. But what about infants? Indeed, in human milk and mixtures, carbohydrates are represented precisely by lactose. Therefore, in most cases, children are simply prescribed the lactase enzyme, which allows not to interrupt breastfeeding, to avoid unpleasant symptoms. And in the case of artificial nutrition, mixtures with a small percentage of lactose or generally lactose-free (with complete intolerance) are prescribed.
If lactose deficiency is diagnosed in newborns, the symptoms force the nutrition to be adjusted immediately. Usually, to transfer the baby to a specialized mixture, it takes 2-3 days. To resolve the new scheme of breastfeeding, it is necessary to replace 1/3 of a single volume of food.
In order to make sure that there is a lactose deficiency in newborns, the symptoms must be confirmed by passing the necessary tests:
- a study of feces on the level of carbohydrates, lactic acid, pH;
- taking a provocative sample with lactose (to determine the amount of hydrogen in the exhaled air).