What should I do if I am lactose intolerant?

Written by Tong Peng

Pediatrics

Updated on March 27, 2025

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If lactose intolerance occurs, it is essential to adjust the diet and medication. Lactose intolerance can cause an increase in the frequency of bowel movements and changes in stool characteristics in children. If it persists for a long time, it can lead to indigestion and malnutrition. In cases where the symptoms are not severe, reducing the intake of lactose-containing foods and adding lactase can help alleviate the symptoms. However, if the condition has been prolonged and is accompanied by complications such as malnutrition, it is advisable to temporarily stop the intake of formula and dairy products and feed lactose-free formula until the symptoms improve and then resume a normal diet. Lactose intolerance can be congenital or acquired, but the treatment method is through dietary control.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu

Gastroenterology

48sec

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How many times a day does lactose intolerance cause diarrhea?

Patients with lactose intolerance can have multiple bowel movements per day after consuming milk; a mild case can result in 3-4 bowel movements, while severe cases might lead to dozens, potentially causing dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. For lactose-intolerant patients who need to consume milk, it must be specially treated beforehand. Additionally, if diarrhea is caused by poor digestion in the gastrointestinal tract, certain medications that adjust the gut microbiota can be used to aid digestion, such as Bifidobacterium triple viable bacteria and Bacillus cereus, etc. If the diarrhea is caused by allergies, allergen testing should be conducted. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Wu Hai Wu

Gastroenterology

47sec

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What to eat when lactose intolerance causes nausea

Patients with lactose intolerance primarily show clinical symptoms related to the digestive tract such as bloating, increased bowel sounds, intestinal colic, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and more. Some patients experience reduced intestinal motility, leading to constipation, and the severity of symptoms is somewhat related to the amount of dairy products consumed. If a patient with lactose intolerance is experiencing nausea, they should eat light foods and avoid dairy products as much as possible. Patients with lactose intolerance should seek medical attention in a timely manner. When visiting a doctor, they should provide detailed medical history information to help the doctor determine the correlation between the clinical symptoms and lactose intolerance.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu

Gastroenterology

47sec

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Can massage therapy adjust lactose intolerance?

Lactose intolerance cannot be managed through massage, and patients with lactose intolerance still need to take appropriate treatment measures to eliminate symptoms and avoid nutritional deficiencies. For primary lactase deficiency, it is advocated to reduce lactose intake, and for congenital lactase deficiency, lifelong lactose abstention is necessary. However, for patients with secondary lactose intolerance, treatment should be based on the underlying disease. For example, if Crohn's disease has caused secondary lactose intolerance, treatment with medications like mesalamine or sulfasalazine salicylate is necessary. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Yan Xin Liang

Pediatrics

59sec

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What should I do if the baby is lactose intolerant?

If the baby is lactose intolerant and does not have frequent bowel movements and it does not affect their growth and development, then no special treatment is needed. If there is frequent diarrhea and slow weight gain, then an adjustment in diet is necessary. If there is significant acute diarrhea accompanied by dehydration, we should initially rehydrate the infant either intravenously or orally to correct the dehydration. At the same time, you can start with some lactose-free formula and, after the diarrhea stops, gradually increase the amount of breast milk or other formulas based on the child's condition. Regardless of whatever food substitute is used, the overall principle is to not decrease the nutritional needs of the child. As solid foods are introduced and breast milk or cow's milk is decreased, diarrhea will gradually cease. If diarrhea does not subside, oral lactase enzyme preparations can also be provided to supplement lactase enzyme therapy.

home-news-image

Written by Tong Peng

Pediatrics

50sec

home-news-image

What should I do if I am lactose intolerant?

If lactose intolerance occurs, it is essential to adjust the diet and medication. Lactose intolerance can cause an increase in the frequency of bowel movements and changes in stool characteristics in children. If it persists for a long time, it can lead to indigestion and malnutrition. In cases where the symptoms are not severe, reducing the intake of lactose-containing foods and adding lactase can help alleviate the symptoms. However, if the condition has been prolonged and is accompanied by complications such as malnutrition, it is advisable to temporarily stop the intake of formula and dairy products and feed lactose-free formula until the symptoms improve and then resume a normal diet. Lactose intolerance can be congenital or acquired, but the treatment method is through dietary control.