Can infant lactose intolerance cause bloody stools?

Written by Quan Xiang Mei
Pediatrics
Updated on September 10, 2024
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When infants experience lactose intolerance, there is a possibility of bloody stools. With lactose intolerance, infants will exhibit symptoms such as an increased frequency of bowel movements, diarrhea, and bloating. If the frequency of bowel movements is particularly high, for instance more than ten times, or even more, especially over a prolonged period, the gastrointestinal function of the infant is not very perfect. An increase in bowel movements can exacerbate damage to the gastrointestinal mucosa, potentially leading to bloody stools. Additionally, when the frequency of bowel movements is very high, it could lead to damage to the perianal skin, which might also result in bloody stools. Or, when an infant has lactose intolerance, if they are also suffering from other viral or bacterial infections in the gastrointestinal tract, the likelihood of bloody stools may increase. Therefore, if we consider that an infant has lactose intolerance, it is crucial to promptly add lactase for treatment and to switch to a different formula for oral administration.

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Can lactose intolerance cause eczema?

Lactose intolerance generally does not cause eczema in patients. Lactose intolerance can be divided into primary lactase deficiency, secondary lactase deficiency, and congenital lactase deficiency. Patients with lactose intolerance mainly experience symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, increased bowel sounds, intestinal colic, and bloating. Some patients experience reduced intestinal motility, leading to constipation, and the severity of symptoms is related to the amount of dairy products consumed. Therefore, a small number of patients can tolerate a certain amount of dairy products without experiencing significant symptoms, and the specific tolerable amount varies from person to person.

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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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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.

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Symptoms of infant milk powder lactose intolerance

The symptoms of infant milk formula lactose intolerance typically manifest in the following areas: Firstly, the most direct symptom is abnormal stool in infants, which looks poorly digested with more milk curds, and this is the most common direct symptom. Secondly, the baby may experience increased gastrointestinal gas, bloating, abdominal pain, leading to restless sleep and irritability. Furthermore, the baby may exhibit a decreased appetite and varying degrees of vomiting. Of course, most cases of infant lactose intolerance occur after an intestinal viral infection, so there may also be symptoms related to viral intestinal infections.

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Is weakly positive lactose intolerance serious?

Lactose intolerance is weakly positive, not particularly severe, and can be improved by taking oral lactase. For mild cases of lactose intolerance, symptoms can be alleviated after taking lactase. However, it is important to monitor the condition when consuming milk powder or milk. If symptoms persistently recur, it may be prudent to switch to extensively hydrolyzed milk powder or other lactose-free milk powder.