Lactose is the main sugar present in milk and normally digested in the small intestines with the help of the enzyme lactase. Since individuals who are lactose intolerant do not produce enough amounts of this enzyme, their bodies could not digest the lactose properly. The undigested food will pass on to the large intestines or colon where bacteria will break it down, resulting to symptoms such as flatulence, gas, diarrhea, nausea and abdominal pain.
A doctor must be consulted in order to rule out other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome or request for a lactose tolerance test. You can learn more about lactose intolerance if you will register in one of the classes on first aid today.
What is lactose intolerance?
Lactose intolerance is a condition that is quite common among adults of Hispanic, African-American, American Indian and Asian descent. In some cases, infants usually have lactose intolerance due to an uncommon genetic fault or premature birth. The symptoms of lactose intolerance can be mild or severe and tends to occur 30 minutes or even up to 2 hours after eating dairy products. The treatment involves regulating or avoidance of foods that include lactose or using a lactase enzyme medication when dairy products are eaten. If you suspect that a family member is intolerant, it is best to consult a doctor for further testing and assessment.
Testing on older children and adults
There are two types of lactose tolerance tests that measure the reaction of the body by drinking a lactose-rich liquid. The hydrogen breath test is commonly used for testing intolerance and malabsorption which involves blowing into a balloon-like container at regular intervals after drinking a lactose dose.
If there is an increase in the level of hydrogen, it shows an increase in the gas production since poorly absorbed lactose reaches the intestines. In some cases, the blood glucose tests can measure the ability of the body to digest and absorb the glucose dose.
Side effects of testing
The gastrointestinal symptoms which are the most common side effects of lactose intolerance testing include flatulence, gas, diarrhea and abdominal pain linked to a high dose of lactose liquid for the breath and laboratory test.
The usual dose of 20-25 g exceeds the amount that most individuals consume during a normal day by drinking milk as well as other dairy products. With this in mind, some individuals are more likely to react to high lactose liquid than to smaller amounts typically ingested during a meal.
In a testing conducted with 25 g of lactose, it can cause symptoms among individuals who might not react to a reduced dose. The treatment for intolerance typically includes a restrictive diet, thus individuals are tested with a lower dose of lactose to avoid a false positive result.