Lactose intolerance is characterized by the inability to digest lactose, the sugar in milk and other dairy products. It can occur if your child does not make enough lactase in his body, an enzyme that helps to digest lactose. According to BabyCenter, lactose intolerance usually shows up in the grade school years, so it is possible for your 8-year-old to begin showing the symptoms at this age.
Symptoms
Symptoms of lactose intolerance include gas, stomach cramps, diarrhea, bloating and nausea. These symptoms occur anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours after your child consumes food containing lactose. According to Medline Plus, your child might also experience slow growth or weight loss as a result of lactose intolerance.
Testing
If you suspect that your child is lactose-intolerant, try removing all dairy products from her diet for about two weeks to see if her symptoms improve. If they do improve, take her to the doctor who can perform tests to confirm lactose intolerance. If she is not lactose-intolerant, her doctor will have to try to determine what else could be causing her symptoms.
Treatment
Although there is no way to cure lactose intolerance, you can help your child manage it by removing lactose from his diet completely; however, he might be able to tolerate foods with small amounts of lactose, like yogurt and cheese. His doctor might also recommend over-the-counter lactase that can help him digest lactose more easily.
Recommendations
Keep in mind that if your child is lactose-intolerant and avoiding dairy products, she may be lacking calcium in her diet. You can help her get the calcium she needs by offering other high-calcium foods like leafy green vegetables, tofu and fortified foods like cereal, juice and bread. If you are unsure how to keep your child eating a balanced diet while dealing with lactose intolerance, talk to her doctor.
