CAUSES OF LACTOSE INTOLLERANT SYMPTOMS IN CHILDREN AND ADULTS

Lactose Intollerant: When the body is unable to absorb and digest lactose/ milk sugar found in milk products. This is usually a result of not enough lactase in the body. Lactose needs to be broken down into galactose and glucose so the body can absorb this in the small intestine by wall lining cells and used as energy by the body. Lactase is the enzyme that is supposed to split lactose and can be found on the wall cells in the small intestine. When a product containing lactose is consumed this may result in gastrointestinal problems. These include flatulence, diarrhea and abdominal cramps.

There are three main causes of Lactase Intollerant symptoms in children and adults:
- Congenital
- secondary
- Hypolactasia /developmental causes

Congenital
This is a rare condition caused by a gene mutation that is accountable for producing the enzyme Lactase. The gene mutation causes the congenital absence of lactase resulting in a deficiency. This lack of lactase begins from birth and symptoms begin to appear shortly after.

Secondary
This is another cause of lactase deficiency and lactose intolellerant symptoms in children and adults resulting from a disease that has destroyed the lining of the small intestine. The lining has cells that hold lactase and antibiotics or diseases usually destroy these.

Hypolactasia / developmental
This is the most common cause of lactase deficiency and lactose intollerant symptoms in children. It begins from childhood and continues into adulthood. There is a decrease in lactase over the years that are programmed in the genes. The rate of the decrease, and the age the symptoms appear, varies within different ethnic groups. There is a need to distinguish between lactase deficiency and lactose intollerant symptoms. There are people who have mild cases of lactase deficiency and even moderate cases, when the people will consume products containing milk sugar and not actually experience symptoms afterwards. This difference determines whether a person is lactose intolerance or has a case of lactase deficiency. A person with lactose intolerance may have developmental cause and will experience symptoms. A diagnosis is only made if a person experiences symptoms whereas a lactase deficiency diagnosis is only made when a reduction of lactase in the intestine is made. This is one of the main causes of lactose intollerant symptoms in children.

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