Lactose intolerance is a lack of lactase, or the enzyme that digests lactose, according to Judith Lauwers, author of "Counseling the Nursing Mother." This lack of lactase means the infant cannot digest her milk or formula, says Lauwers. Consult your pediatrician immediately if you believe your infant might be lactose intolerant.
Symptoms
According to Grace B. Curtis, M.D., author of "Your Baby's First Year Week by Week," symptoms of lactose intolerance in infants includes diarrhea, gas, stomach pain, nausea and vomiting. Many other infant health problems have this same list of symptoms, however. For example, according to Lauwers, what seems like lactose intolerance in an infant may actually be an intolerance to the protein in the cow's milk used in the formula. Bridget Swinney, author of "Baby Bites," says inherited lactose intolerance is very rare in infants.
Long-Term Effects
It is important to identify lactose intolerance, or any other problem with your baby's tolerance to her formula, as soon as possible. The effects of allowing a lactose-intolerant infant to remain on the formula causing problems includes dehydration or failure to thrive, according to Swinney. In extreme cases, an infant can die from lack of nutrition unless her formula is changed and she is given breast milk or another type of formula that she can ingest more easily.
High-Risk Populations
Lactose intolerance is common in some populations, although it usually does not develop until adulthood, according to Swinney. Swinney says 90 percent of Asians, 80 percent of African-Americans and 53 percent of Hispanics suffer from lactose intolerance. If your infant has any of these heritages in his background, he may be more susceptible to lactose intolerance. However, as Swinney says, as the world becomes more integrated and infants are more likely to have more than one ethnic or racial heritage, more children of varying backgrounds may be at risk.
When to See a Pediatrician
See a pediatrician immediately if your infant appears extremely fussy or colicky after feedings. Curtis says If your baby has frequent or repeated vomiting or diarrhea after eating, or if she does not appear to be gaining weight, you should contact your pediatrician right away, especially if you recently started feeding her with a different formula or are switching from nursing to formula. Your infant may not have lactose intolerance, but these symptoms can be cause for concern. Your pediatrician may change her formula.
