Does lactose intolerance cause constipation?

Written by Wu Ben Rong
Pediatrics
Updated on March 09, 2025
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If a child has lactose intolerance, they usually do not experience constipation. Lactose intolerance typically refers to a deficiency of lactase in the small intestine mucosa of newborns, which leads to the impaired digestion and absorption of lactose in milk and causes related symptoms. The clinical symptoms mainly include diarrhea, bloating, and abdominal pain, often accompanied by increased bowel sounds and spasmodic diarrhea. In severe cases, dehydration, vomiting, or acidosis may occur. The stools are usually watery or frothy, acidic, and contain lactose. The child's weight usually does not increase, and symptoms such as malnutrition, anemia, and emaciation may occur. Constipation refers to reduced frequency of bowel movements, difficulty in defecating, or hard stools; lactose intolerance usually does not lead to such symptoms.

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Written by Zhang Xian Hua
Pediatrics
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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.

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Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
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How long does lactose intolerance self-heal?

Lactose intolerance may resolve on its own in some babies after the age of three, while others may not recover from it. Lactose intolerance primarily occurs because the secretion of lactase in the intestines decreases, leading to incomplete breakdown of lactose found in breastmilk or cow's milk. This results in symptoms such as diarrhea, bloating, and indigestion. There are two causes of lactose intolerance: one is congenital lactose intolerance, which requires long-term medication or avoiding dairy products as much as possible. The other cause is transient lactose intolerance due to infection, which generally improves about a month after treatment.

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Written by Huang Gang
Gastroenterology
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Does lactose intolerance definitely not lead to weight gain?

Lactose intolerance does not necessarily affect body weight. Lactose intolerance merely causes symptoms like diarrhea, abdominal pain, and bloating when consuming regular formula or cow's milk. If one consumes hydrolyzed formula or lactose-free milk powder, these symptoms, such as diarrhea, do not occur, and nutrients can be fully digested and absorbed. By ensuring adequate nutrition, this can lead to weight gain and obesity, rather than causing a person to be underweight.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
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What should I do if I vomit due to lactose intolerance?

Lactose intolerance can lead to vomiting, which can be managed based on the condition by symptomatic treatment. For example, Metoclopramide can be used orally or through muscle injection to alleviate vomiting. If necessary, chlorpromazine injections can also be used for treatment. The choice of specific medications and their administration must adhere to medical advice. In addition to addressing the symptoms, it is essential to treat the primary disease causing lactose intolerance. For instance, if it is caused by ulcerative colitis, then treatment should focus on this condition. In the case of primary lactose intolerance, a lifelong avoidance of lactose-containing foods is necessary. (Medication use should be under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Tong Peng
Pediatrics
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What are the effects of lactose intolerance in infants?

Lactose intolerance in children primarily causes an imbalance in the gut microbiome, leading to digestive system symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. The main mechanism is the insufficient secretion of lactase in the baby's intestines, which fails to digest and absorb lactose in food, resulting in symptoms of lactose intolerance. In such cases, the intake of probiotics orally and reducing the intake of foods containing lactose can be helpful. If the baby is fed with formula or breast milk, taking lactase orally or switching to lactose-free formula milk for feeding can be considered. If the child has already started on solid foods, halt the intake of dairy products and simply continue feeding with solid foods, such as porridge, noodles, or rice flour. If a baby shows signs of lactose intolerance, it is crucial to monitor for symptoms of dehydration. If there are signs like poor skin turgor, low energy, or reduced urine output, it is essential to seek medical attention promptly from a specialist to manage and prevent the aggravation of dehydration symptoms.