Symptoms of lactose intolerance can be delayed up to two hours, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. When you're lactose intolerant, your body cannot digest the sugar found in milk. The sugar will remain undigested in the intestines until bacteria can break it down. Depending on how long it takes for the bacteria to digest the lactose will depend on how long the delay of symptoms will be. The symptoms of lactose intolerance are the same whether they appear in 20 minutes or in two hours. Talk with your doctor to receive a proper diagnosis of your condition.
Cause
Lactose intolerance occurs when your small intestines do not make enough of the lactase enzyme. Without this enzyme, your body cannot absorb milk sugar. Newborns produce high levels of lactase because their primary diet is milk-based, whether breast fed or bottle fed, according to MedlinePlus. As you grow into adulthood, your body stops making as much lactase as it did when you were a baby. If your body stops making too much, you can become lactose intolerant. About 30 million American have lactose intolerance symptoms by 20 years old.
Delayed Symptoms
If you have delayed symptoms from lactose intolerance, all of you symptoms will appear at the same time -- up to two hours after you've ingested dairy. The most common symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, cramping, gas and bloating. You may feel the sudden urge to have a bowel movement that can be explosive and watery. Once the lactose is removed from the body, your symptoms should subside. Any symptoms that persist need to be evaluated by your doctor.
Risks
Some people are at greater risk of developing lactose intolerance. If you've had surgery or received radiation for cancer in your abdomen, you are at greater risk of developing lactose intolerance. Africans, Asians, American Indians and Hispanics are at the greatest risk. As you age, you have a greater chance of becoming lactose intolerant. Premature babies may not have sufficient amounts of lactase because the enzyme is created during the third trimester.
Treatment
You can prevent symptoms of lactose intolerance by drinking dairy products that do not contain lactose, taking a lactase enzyme or avoiding dairy products altogether. Some dairy products eliminate the lactose during the manufacturing process, preventing lactose symptoms when ingested.
