Lactose intolerance symptoms can be embarrassing for children because the condition causes bloating, gas and frequent trips to the bathroom. Although the condition doesn't permanently damage any part of the child's digestive tract, the symptoms are bothersome. Lactose intolerance is incurable and will continue throughout the child's life, but it is manageable by identifying the problem and modifying the diet. Only your child's doctor can diagnose this condition.
Identification
When a healthy person ingests lactose, the sugar found in dairy, the intestines produce lactase, an enzyme that helps to digest the complex sugar. If your child is lactose intolerant, her body doesn't create enough lactase to breakdown the sugar, resulting in irritation and inflammation in the intestines. The body cannot absorb lactose in this state and therefore attempts to rid itself of the irritant as soon as possible. Lactose intolerance symptoms can appear in infancy when cow's milk is introduced.
Symptoms
Symptoms of lactose intolerance in children are the same as the symptoms in adulthood. Symptoms develop within 20 to 30 minutes after ingesting dairy and can last for an hour or two. Common symptoms include bloating, gas, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loose stools, cramping, abdominal pain and stools that float. Symptoms are predicated on how intolerant the child is to lactose. Some children can handle a cup of milk with mild symptoms, while others may experience severe symptoms from a small amount of dairy.
Elimination Diet
In order to determine how much lactose your child can naturally process without treatment, your doctor may recommend an elimination diet. Elimination diets for lactose intolerance will have you remove all dairy from your child's diet for up to two weeks and then introduce a small amount of dairy, such as 1 tsp. of cow's milk. You record if your child develops any adverse reactions. Over the next week, you slowly increase the amount of dairy you give your child until he begins developing symptoms. A discussion of the outcome of the elimination diet with your child's doctor will establish an accurate evaluation of the results.
Treatment
Treating lactose intolerance symptoms in children begins with a proper diagnosis. Your doctor may recommend avoiding diary altogether. Some manufactures sell milk products that are lactose-free and are considered safe for a child with lactose intolerance. You can also buy lactase enzyme supplement pills or drops at your local pharmacy that can be used at the first bite or sip of a dairy product to help the body digest the sugar.
