Symptoms And Causes Of Lactose Intolerance

Lactose intolerance is basically defined as the insufficient inability or the complete inability of the digestive system of an individual to digest lactose which is a sugar that is found in milk as well as in milk products. In most cases lactose intolerance is caused on account of a deficiency of an enzyme known as lactose which is usually produced by the cells that line the small intestine. Lactose plays the role of breaking down lactose into two simpler forms of sugar known as lactose and glucose which can then be easily absorbed into the blood stream of the individual. There are some people who are lactose intolerant who are still able to tolerate a small amount of lactose in their diet.

The primary cause of lactose intolerance is the gradual development of lactose deficiency which happens over time. Infact the symptoms of lactose intolerance in children are not observed right until they reach adolescence or even adulthood in some cases. Some other causes of lactose deficiency may also be genetic, injury to the small intestine which may be on account of diarrhea or chemotherapy. Those who suffer from lactose intolerance may feel uncomfortable for around 30 minutes to almost 2 hours after they consume some milk products or milk. The symptoms of lactose intolerance would range from mild to extremely severe depending on the amount of lactose the person can tolerate and the amount of lactose the person has consumed. Some other common symptoms of lactose intolerance are gas, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, abdominal bloating and so on. Once an individual experiences the symptoms of lactose intolerance the doctor usually administer one of the two types of test namely hydrogen breath test and even stool acidity test to confirm if they are lactose intolerant. One of the main symptoms of lactose intolerance is stomach ache followed by diarrhea. The symptoms of lactose intolerance in children are usually vomiting and eczema which can be observed within 30 to 60 minutes of the child consuming a dairy product or even breast milk at times. Symptoms of lactose intolerance in very small children will be in the form of them crying inconsolably or grimacing after drinking milk. The child will even turn and twist its body to try and relieve the discomfort experienced. Another one of the symptoms of lactose intolerance is disturbed sleep. Similarly, children and adults may also suffer from constipation and one of the most common causes of constipation is excessive fiber in ones diet or even dehydration.