Lactose intolerance in children

Lactose intolerance is a digestive disorder in which the body has difficulty breaking down milk sugar (lactose). The cause is insufficient production of the enzyme lactase, which is normally responsible for breaking down lactose into the easily digestible sugars glucose and galactose.

Lactose intolerance usually manifests itself through symptoms such as abdominal pain, flatulence, diarrhoea and sometimes nausea and usually occurs within a few hours of consuming dairy products. As children are often unable to describe or localise the symptoms precisely, the situation is not easy to assess for parents and specialists alike.

Diagnosis by means of a test

A frequently used method to determine lactose intolerance is the hydrogen breath test. The child is given a lactose-containing solution and the hydrogen content in the breath is measured. In the case of lactose intolerance, the hydrogen levels rise and symptoms appear. As the test takes several hours and must be carried out on an empty stomach, it is mainly suitable for older children and adults. Paediatricians therefore often advise babies and small children to switch to lactose-free foods for two to four weeks on a trial basis. A larger amount of lactose is then administered to check whether this triggers typical symptoms. However, lactose intolerance in babies is relatively rare and the symptoms are more likely to be due to other causes.

Finding the right treatment

In the first phase after diagnosis, it is usually recommended to completely avoid foods containing lactose. It is then possible to test how much milk, yoghurt and similar foods the child's body can process without symptoms occurring. In many cases, the body can tolerate small amounts of foods containing lactose. It may take some time to determine this tolerance level, but it is a good way to avoid having to give up conventional dairy products completely.

In general, lactose intolerance persists for a lifetime. The exception to this is so-called secondary lactose intolerance. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract that affect the small intestine can lead to a short-term lactase deficiency and thus to temporary lactose intolerance. In such cases, lactose intolerance can improve over time as soon as the intestinal microbiome recovers.

Remember that not every child with digestive problems automatically suffers from lactose intolerance. Other causes such as food allergies or gastrointestinal disorders should also be considered. An accurate diagnosis by a healthcare professional is therefore important in order to find the right treatment for your child.