Lactose intolerance and your child – what you need to know

Milk is one of the most important sources of calcium, protein, and vitamins for growing kids. If your child is lactose intolerant, how can you make sure they are getting everything they need from their diet?

A dairy or lactose-free diet can be a daunting prospect for mums and dads, but armed with the right information it's possible to keep your little one happy and healthy. What's the difference between intolerance and allergy? Many people are confused about what the difference is between a food intolerance and a food allergy. An allergy is an immune response triggered by the consumption of a food that is normally well-tolerated by the rest of the population. The body produces antibodies against immunoglobulin when a particular food is consumed. Allergies can manifest immediately after eating, touching or even inhaling the food. The symptoms of food allergy include hives, redness, swelling, vomiting, abdominal pain, asthma, rhinitis (inflammation of the inside of the nose), difficulty breathing or a potentially life-threatening anaphylactic reaction. An intolerance is the inability to properly digest food. It is characterised by the presence of gastro-intestinal symptoms or issues in other areas such as the respiratory tract, skin, reproductive and immune systems. How is lactose intolerance diagnosed? If you suspect that your child is lactose intolerant, the HSE advise keeping a diary of what they eat and drink, noting any symptoms they experience, and bring it along when you visit your GP. Tell your doctor if you notice any patterns, or if there are any foods that your smallie seems particularly sensitive to. Your GP may suggest removing lactose from your child's diet for two weeks to see if it helps to relieve their symptoms. There are also a number of tests that can be performed to find out how much, if any, lactase your child's body is producing, and what might be causing their lactose intolerance. Your doctor can also refer you to a dietitian for nutritional advice. Remember that it is perfectly safe to breastfeed your baby if you are lactose intolerant - it does not put them at greater risk of becoming lactose intolerant. What dietary options does my child have? Eliminating dairy products and derivatives can increase the risk of osteoporosis due to lack of calcium. Dairy products also provide important nutritional properties such as phosphorus, potassium, iodine and vitamins B1, B2 and B3, A and D. You should discuss any significant changes you make to your child's diet with your GP and a qualified dietician. Many children with low lactase levels can drink up to half a cup of milk without symptoms. Cow's milk has a lactose content of around four-five percent, while the average lactose content of lactose-low milks range from 0.1 to 1.8 percent, which is generally well tolerated. Lactase enzymes can be added to normal milk or can be taken as capsules or as chewable tablets. If it is necessary to incorporate extra calcium, vitamin D and riboflavin into your child's diet, the following can be used: - Calcium supplements - Calcium source foods: green leafy vegetables, oysters, sardines, canned salmon, prawns and broccoli Always read food labels very carefully as lactose can also be found in some non-dairy products.