Allergy to lactose

Allergy to lactose (or, in medical terms, lactose intolerance, lactase deficiency) is an unpleasant phenomenon that, contrary to popular belief, affects the adult population no less than newborns and preschool children.

It is necessary to clearly understand the difference between milk allergy and lactose intolerance. Lactose refers to the complex sugars contained in milk and all dairy products, and digested with the enzyme lactase. If a person suffers from a lowered level of lactase, then allergy (intolerance) to lactose can not be avoided. Nevertheless, people with increased sensitivity to lactose, in contrast to those who are allergic to milk, may not exclude from the diet of calcium-rich dairy products.

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Causes of allergy to lactose

Very often people say that they do not like milk, not knowing that they actually suffer from lactase deficiency.

The reasons for lactose intolerance (or allergy to lactose) can be associated with both congenital body dysfunction and acquired diseases.

The most common causes of allergy to lactose: 

• Congenital deficiency of lactase (an enzyme that breaks down lactose in dairy products). It should be noted that such a disease is very rare and is most typical in countries where it is not customary to consume cow's milk (South America, Africa, Asia). 
• Individual features of the human body. Since the age of two, a natural process is occurring in the human body - a decrease in the level of lactase. Depending on the individual characteristics, this process can go imperceptibly. If the decrease is too great, lactose intolerance for an adult is almost inevitable. 

Secondary lactase deficiency. The reasons for this are:

• Diseases that affect the small intestine (inflammatory processes, influenza, etc.). In this case, the allergy to lactose disappears after complete disposal of the disease. 
• Surgical intervention - surgery on the stomach or intestines, which permanently deprive the body of the ability to produce an enzyme - lactase.

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Symptoms of lactose allergy

Often the symptoms of lactose intolerance resemble food poisoning. In this case, you should pay attention to the products that people have eaten recently.

Symptoms of lactose allergy occur within about 30 minutes after consuming any dairy product (curd, homemade cheese, ice cream): 

• Pain in abdominal cramping (spasms).
• Bloating, which provokes increased gas formation in the intestine.
• Diarrhea, loose stools.
• In rare cases - fever and vomiting.

Allergy to lactose in children

With allergy to lactose (lactase deficiency), virtually all children aged between two years. This phenomenon is considered absolutely normal, because with age, the human need for milk decreases and up to six years in the intestines of the child there is a natural decrease in the production of lactase. But despite the seeming safety of the genetic process, for all newborns and infants, a lactose allergy can become a fatal disease due to severe accompanying symptoms that can provoke complete exhaustion of the child's body (ongoing vomiting, diarrhea, inability to absorb basic food - milk).

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Allergy to lactose in newborns

For babies and infants, the allergy to lactose is especially dangerous, because the main diet of their nutrition consists of mother's milk, saturated not only with all the necessary vitamins, but also with a large amount of lactose.

Most often, premature or immature infants suffer from lactase insufficiency.

Symptoms of allergy to lactose in children: 

• Child's anxiety during the reception of milk (the child starts eating with appetite, but after a few minutes begins to cry, give up the breast, presses his legs to the stomach).
• Bloating and increased gas separation.
• A liquid frothy stool.
• Red rashes on the skin.

Allergies to lactose can occur both during breastfeeding and during the feeding of a child with artificial mixtures (if they have added cow's milk protein or soybean).

In order to save the child from a dangerous ailment, you need to undergo a medical examination and transfer the baby to a lactose-free diet - usually such measures are sufficient to completely get rid of lactase deficiency.

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Diagnosis of lactose allergy

In both adults and children, the diagnosis of lactose allergy is a series of absolutely painless procedures.

Often, to identify lactase deficiency alone is not difficult; this can be done by tracking the relationship between the onset of symptoms of the disease and the intake of dairy products.

For a more detailed examination, several types of analyzes are usually used: 

• The analysis of feces for carbohydrates, blood for glucose after milk consumption.
• Analysis-test for hydrogen level (the amount of exhaled hydrogen is directly related to undigested lactose).
• In rare and especially difficult cases, the analysis of the mucosa of the small intestine (biopsy) is carried out.

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Treatment of allergy to lactose

The most important moment in the treatment of lactase deficiency is a special diet with a low content or total exclusion (for newborns) causes allergies - lactose.

Adults are allowed to use fermented milk products (kefir, cheese, yogurt, etc.) in small quantities, as well as the inclusion in the diet of calcium-containing foods (fish, almonds, etc.)

With lactose allergy, surgical interventions and physiotherapy are not provided, as well as drug treatment. But to improve the general condition of the patient the doctor can prescribe enzyme preparations: 

• "Lactase" is taken by adults for 3 tablets before consumption of dairy products or 1 capsule per day in case the patient already takes such drugs or vitamins.
• "Lactase Baby" is assigned to newborns and children under 7 years of age. Depending on the degree of intolerance to children, the contents of 1-7 capsules of the drug are added.

Alternative means in the fight against allergy to lactose are ineffective, although in order to alleviate the general condition, you can take a decoction of herbs that have an anti-inflammatory effect: 

• With diarrhea: yarrow, wormwood, horsetail, roots of cottonwood - two tablespoons of the same amount of dried medicinal herbs pour 0.5 boiling water and insist for 2 hours. Accept warm half a cup 3 times a day. 
• With bloating and increased gas production: a tablespoon of pharmacy chamomile is poured a glass of hot water and boiled for 5 minutes; insist 4 hours and take before eating two tablespoons.

Prevention of allergy to lactose

Unfortunately, to avoid allergies to lactose, which is provoked at the genetic level is impossible. However, people who suffer from lactose deficiency should be encouraged by the fact that they can not restrict the use of dairy products completely (in contrast to those who are allergic to milk). In order to rid itself of unpleasant consequences, it is sufficient to adhere to certain rules: 

• Milk can be consumed in small amounts (not more than 200 ml) and only together with food.
• For those who suffer from lactose intolerance, cheese (mozzarella, parmesan, cheddar) and yogurt in small amounts are usually fairly easy to tolerate.
• To ensure that the body does not suffer from a lack of calcium, it is necessary to eat "milk substitutes": fish, soy milk, green vegetables, almonds, etc.
• Carefully study the composition of the products and the drug instructions, where lactose can be added; follow the food that is served in cafes and restaurants.

It is worth remembering that no one is immune from the so-called acquired allergy to lactose. Therefore, in order to avoid such troubles, one should carefully consider the health of the digestive system (stomach, intestines), avoid problems with the gastrointestinal tract, timely and under the supervision of a specialist to treat diseases of the stomach and intestines.

Allergy to lactose (or lactase deficiency) is a phenomenon that can not be called a disease, because it is temporary and can be coped with quickly and without much effort, if an attentive attitude to one's own health becomes a habit for you.