Rotavirus is an infection that commonly occurs in children and affects the intestines, leading to diarrhea and potentially, vomiting. Children most commonly experience this infection before age 5, and will develop immunity to the virus after becoming ill with the virus the first time. After your child has recovered from the virus, he may experience a surprising symptom: lactose intolerance. This lactose intolerance is typically a temporary occurrence, however.
Significance
Lactose is a sugar naturally present in milk and milk products, such as yogurt, ice cream and cheese. However, lactose must be broken down into smaller particles for your body to use the glucose sugars for energy. To accomplish this, your body needs lactase, an enzyme that creates a reaction in the body to break down the lactose. However, some people do not have the lactase enzyme in their bodies. This can be due to being born without lactase, or losing lactase after an illness.
Secondary Lactase Deficiency
Lactose intolerance after rotavirus or other diseases is called secondary lactase deficiency. This occurs because the rotavirus infection can take away cells on the inner lining of the intestine that contain lactase. While new cells will grow in the lost cells’ place, it takes some time for new lactase enzymes to grow in the new cells. The result can be lactose intolerance that typically is not permanent, but may cause temporary lactose intolerance.
Symptoms
Lactose intolerance can cause your baby or child to experience stomach discomfort between 30 minutes and two hours after consuming a product that contains lactose, according to PubMed Health. Your child may have symptoms such as a bloated stomach, abdominal cramping, gas and nausea. Because these symptoms closely mirror those of rotavirus, it can be difficult to distinguish between the two conditions. However, you can try to temporarily switch your child’s typical milk products to lactose-free milk, soy milk or fermented milk products, such as yogurt, which may be easier for your child to digest until the lactase enzymes regenerate. Always speak with your child’s physician before making dietary changes, however.
Dehydration and Lactose Intolerance
Not all babies who experience rotavirus will experience dehydration after recovering from the rotavirus infection. Because vomiting and diarrhea increase the risk for dehydration, children who have this symptom are more likely to experience lactose intolerance, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. However, children who experience no to mild dehydration can likely return to milk and milk products after rotavirus.
References
- American Academy of Pediatrics; Lactose Intolerance in Infants, Children and Adolescents; Melvin Heyman, M.D., M.P.H.; September 2006
- Patient.co.uk; Rotavirus; December 2009
- Food Reactions; Prevalence, Age & Genetics of Lactose Intolerance; 2005
- Women and Children's Health Network; Rotavirus Gastroenteritis; March 2011
