Milk intolerance or lactase deficiency was known 5,000 years ago.
This disease is genetically determined and today a gene has been successfully identified that is responsible for the formation of this pathology.
It first appeared in Northern Europe, where a large number of children with lactase deficiency are currently observed.
Milk intolerance has a certain pathogenetic mechanism. With a hereditary defect of the gene responsible for the breakdown of lactose (it may be absent or non-functional), the milk received during the feeding of the baby simply does not break down, more precisely, lactose does not break down. As a result, this product stagnates in the intestines and causes fermentation.
And so all the unpleasant symptoms in the baby begin. The tummy is swollen, the child is restless. Strong flatulence and rumbling can be observed. With a subsequent portion of milk, the symptoms are aggravated, and so on until the moment when the mother takes the child to the doctor.
Milk intolerance can very often occur in premature infants. The thing is that only a mature fetus at the time of birth has a sufficient concentration of the enzyme to break down milk, which can not be said about children born prematurely. This condition is called neonatology transient lactase deficiency, which for some time passes. The baby again begins to suck avidly, becomes calm and sleeps a lot.
Today, there is the concept of secondary intolerance to milk. This disease is associated with inflammation in the intestinal wall, as a result of which lactose is not secreted in sufficient quantities. Most often, this process can be detected in older children and in adults. Some, even after eliminating the cause of the disease, do not consume milk, in fear that the symptoms will return again.
Many people confuse enzyme deficiency with a specific reaction of the body to milk. Milk allergy in children is diagnosed in 20% of cases, and this is a reaction to cow's milk protein . The disease begins at 2-3 months of age, mainly with skin manifestations.
If you ask the mother of such a child, then she will tell you that about a month ago the baby was transferred to artificial feeding with unadapted mixtures.
If the child is allergic to milk, symptoms of enteritis or colitis, then the mother will only find this for 2-3 days from the moment of consumption of cow's milk. The child has frequent spitting up, stool with a lot of mucus, fetid, can take on a greenish tint. The tummy is swollen, the baby is restless, cries, does not sleep, practically does not eat. By the time of contacting a specialist, such children are diagnosed with malnutrition, weakened muscle tone, and lack of exercise. Characteristic rashes (diathesis) appear on the skin, which then begin to “get wet” and become crusty. This brings a lot of discomfort to the baby.
The disease has many similarities with celiac disease, only begins much earlier. In a blood test, a child may have anemia and leukocytosis. Radiography diagnoses osteoporosis.
The big positive thing is that such babies respond better to treatment than with celiac disease. After several years of diet without cow protein, the baby can again consume milk.
Such children are prescribed special hypoallergenic mixtures based on soy hydrolyzate or breastfeeding. The baby's condition improves already on the 10th day of proper feeding.
Summing up, I want to note that proper feeding of the baby in the first year of his life is the foundation of good health!