What is Lactose Intolerance?

Lactose intolerance and cow’s milk allergy are both conditions involving a reaction to dairy, but differ in cause. Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest lactose, the sugar in milk, due to a deficiency in the enzyme lactase. This leads to bloating, gas, diarrhea, and stomach cramps after consuming dairy products. On the other hand, cow’s milk allergy is an immune reaction to one or more proteins in cow’s milk, and is more common in infants and young children. It can cause symptoms ranging from hives and vomiting to severe anaphylaxis.

How We Cure It

Lactose intolerance is managed by avoiding lactose-containing foods or using lactase enzyme supplements to aid digestion. There’s no cure, but symptoms are controlled with dietary adjustments. Cow’s milk allergy is managed by completely avoiding all dairy and dairy-containing products. In infants, special hypoallergenic formulas may be recommended. Most children outgrow cow’s milk allergy by age 3–5. Emergency medications like antihistamines or epinephrine are used in case of allergic reactions. Regular follow-ups help assess tolerance over time.