Lactose intolerance, the symptoms of which we will present a little lower, can occur in children for various reasons. However, this deviation is almost always based on a baby’s lack of an enzyme called lactase. It is this substance that is able to break down lactose disaccharide into galactose and glucose, which subsequently enter the human circulatory system to ensure all energy chains.
Lactose intolerance: symptoms in children (primary)
As a rule, intolerance to milk sugar manifests itself immediately or a couple of hours after the child drinks a drink that includes milk. In addition, the deficiency of lactase in the baby’s body can make itself felt even after eating foods such as cheese, yogurt, ice cream, cream, sour cream, cakes, chocolate, butter, etc.
If you notice that after the aforementioned meal your child felt uneasy, then most likely he has lactose intolerance. Symptoms of this deviation are as follows:
- cramping abdominal pains, or rather, in its middle part (just above the navel);
- regular diarrhea;
- constant nausea, and in rare cases, vomiting is possible;
- bloating or flatulence.
If these problems have a place to be, then lactose intolerance can be suspected.
Symptoms in newborns (more rare)
It is worth noting that all of the above signs of milk sugar allergy can be expressed in completely different degrees. In this regard, it can be quite difficult to understand that a child has this deviation, and not a banal intestinal disorder.
However, in addition to the primary signs, with this disease, atypical symptoms can also be observed, which manifest themselves in the form of:
- headaches;
- state of prostration;
- skin rashes.
But even here it is quite problematic to identify the true cause of lactose intolerance in newborn children. By the way, the severity of these symptoms, as well as their form, is individual. Most often, they depend on the severity of the disease and the amount of milk sugar that was consumed by the child.
How to treat?
Lactose intolerance, the symptoms of which are individual in each individual child, is not treatable. That is why mothers whose children are prone to this deviation should carefully monitor the diet of their children. In other words, babies need to completely or partially avoid the use of products such as milk drinks and other ingredients that include the presented component.
If this disease is acquired in nature (for example, as a result of complications after an intestinal disease such as celiac disease), then, with long treatment, the child can gradually return to normal nutrition.
By the way, such a deviation as lactose intolerance, the symptoms of which were presented above, can be detected not only by observing your baby, but also as follows:
- special oral test;
- hydrogen breath test.