The most common disorder mistaken for lactose intolerance is a milk allergy. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that while 25 percent of the population believes they are allergic to foods, only about 2 percent of adults are clinically diagnosed. Lactose intolerance and a milk allergy are commonly confused because they produce similar gastric symptoms, but the two conditions are distinctly different. If you experience adverse reactions every time you consume diary products, you need to talk with your doctor for an accurate diagnosis.
The Difference
The main difference between the two conditions is related to their cause. Lactose intolerance is a disorder of the small intestines, whereas a milk allergy is an immune-system reaction, according to MayoClinic.com. If you're lactose intolerant, your small intestines fail to produce enough lactase, the enzyme needed to properly digest the milk sugar. A milk allergy causes the immune system to react as if it was under attack. The main differences can be seen in the symptoms of the two conditions. Similar symptoms are only related to the digestive system. A milk allergy will cause other symptoms unrelated to the digestive tract.
Milk Allergy
A milk allergy is a hypersensitivity of the immune system to the proteins found in dairy. The immune system begins to defend the body by creating immunoglobulin E, or IgE antibodies, to fight off the proteins, according to Kids Health. These antibodies cause the mast cells in your body to create histamine. Histamine is a naturally occurring hormone in the body that helps to protect against infection. Too much histamine in soft tissue causes inflammation and leads to common milk-allergy symptoms.
Symptoms
Similar symptoms between the two conditions include nausea, vomiting, bloating, gas, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Both conditions cause irritation and swelling to occur in the digestive tract. Symptoms that are exclusive to a milk allergy include sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, nasal congestion, sinus headaches, hives, skin rashes, eczema, wheezing, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, facial swelling and tingling. In rare cases, a milk allergy can lead to anaphylactic shock, a severe and life-threatening condition.
Treatment
The most effective way to prevent milk-allergy symptoms is to avoid all foods and beverages that contain milk. Food manufacturers are required by the government to disclose the use of milk in their product. MayoClinic.com recommends using an antihistamine to treat mild-to-moderate allergy symptoms.
