What kind of formula should a baby with lactose intolerance drink?

Written by Wu Ben Rong
Pediatrics
Updated on January 16, 2025
00:00
00:00

If a child is lactose intolerant, parents can go to a maternity and baby store to pick a lactose-free infant formula. Lactose intolerance is due to a deficiency or insufficient activity of lactase in the small intestinal mucosa, which results in the inability to completely digest and break down the lactose in breast milk or cow's milk. Common symptoms may include weeks of diarrhea, bloating, and abdominal pain. Primary lactose intolerance is usually caused by genetic factors, while secondary lactose intolerance is generally caused by gastroenteritis. When a child exhibits the aforementioned symptoms, parents need to improve the child's diet and switch to a lactose-free infant formula, which not only ensures the child's nutritional intake but also alleviates the condition of lactose intolerance. If necessary, they should visit a formal hospital for relevant examinations and treatment.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
48sec home-news-image

How to deal with nausea from lactose intolerance?

Patients with lactose intolerance who experience nausea can consider using some medications for symptomatic treatment. For example, they can use meclozine orally or by muscle injection. They may also use medications that promote gastric motility, such as domperidone, mosapride, and itopride, to treat impaired gastric motility. Patients with lactose intolerance may also experience bloating, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation. Appropriate symptomatic treatments can be taken according to different symptoms. Lactose intolerance, if due to a secondary disease such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, requires active treatment of the primary disease. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
1min 26sec home-news-image

Symptoms of baby lactose intolerance

If a child has lactose intolerance, the main symptoms are related to the digestive system, such as frequent bloating. Children may experience bloating and restlessness at night, and even signs of intestinal colic. There are abnormal bowel movement frequencies, such as constipation for several days, as well as diarrhea with a noticeable increase in stool frequency and a looser stool consistency. Sometimes, there may be symptoms of bloody stools, which should alert caregivers to the possibility of lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance is divided into primary and secondary forms. Primary lactose intolerance is more common in Chinese due to genetic factors. Secondary lactose intolerance is mainly due to other reasons that lead to a deficiency of intestinal lactase, with infections and acute gastroenteritis being common causes. For children with lactose intolerance, lactase can be added to breast milk or lactose-free formula can be used. It is also advised to regularly recheck urinary lactose levels. If levels return to normal, breastfeeding can continue. If abnormalities persist, gradually introduce solid foods, as a normal diet usually does not significantly affect the child.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Tong Peng
Pediatrics
49sec home-news-image

Do infants with lactose intolerance need to switch to a different formula?

Whether to switch formula for infants with lactose intolerance should be assessed based on the specific condition of the baby. If the baby's symptoms of lactose intolerance are mild, they can be managed by adding lactase and probiotics. However, if the baby has had diarrhea for a long time, frequent bowel movements, and also shows signs of reduced urine output, decreased skin turgor, and lethargy, it indicates a more severe dysfunction in the digestive system. In this case, it is necessary to switch to lactose-free formula to prevent exacerbation of gastrointestinal dysfunction. It is also important to pay attention to the baby's food hygiene and hand hygiene in daily life, especially during the peak season of diarrhea in autumn. It is advisable to get vaccinated in advance to prevent the transmission of other digestive system diseases.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Xian Hua
Pediatrics
43sec home-news-image

Symptoms of infant lactose intolerance

Lactose intolerance in infants is mostly due to lactose intolerance secondary to post-viral infections, with a small portion being primary lactose intolerance caused by low activity or lack of lactase. This leads to undigested lactose after consuming animal milk, resulting in a series of clinical symptoms. Common symptoms include changes in stool; for lactose-intolerant children, there are relatively more curds in the stool, and the stool is somewhat loose and poorly digested. Additionally, children with lactose intolerance often have poor digestive function, increased gastrointestinal gas, and sometimes experience bloating and abdominal discomfort, which can also affect the baby's sleep.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Tong Peng
Pediatrics
58sec home-news-image

How to regulate diarrhea caused by infant lactose intolerance

Children with lactose intolerance exhibit symptoms of diarrhea and must be treated through diet and medication. Lactose intolerance indicates an insufficient secretion of lactase by the child's digestive system. Therefore, the diet should consist of light, liquid, and easily digestible foods, avoiding hard-to-digest and lactose-containing foods. Additionally, dietary adjustments are necessary. If the child is breastfed or formula-fed, it is advisable to temporarily switch to lactose-free formula until symptoms subside and then gradually return to a normal diet. It is also important to use probiotics and related supportive medications. Attention should be paid to the child's stool, skin turgor, and urine output, as prolonged diarrhea can lead to malnutrition and electrolyte imbalances, with severe cases possibly resulting in dehydration. Hence, ongoing monitoring is essential.