How Do You Know If Your Kid Is Lactose Intolerant Or Has A Digestive Disorder? Expert Weighs In. (Image: Canva)
It is a known fact that gut health plays an important role in a child’s overall well-being, many children may face issues such as lactose intolerance and other digestive disorders. Understanding the differences between these issues can help the child to improve his/her overall well-being.
We spoke to Dr Atul Palwe, Consultant Pediatrician and Neonatologist, Motherhood Hospital, about the same.
He spoke about how lactose intolerance happens when sufficient levels of lactase are absent in the child, that is the enzyme required to break down lactose, the sugar found in milk and dairy products. It is a common occurrence in children. The signs and symptoms of it are bloating, diarrhea, stomach cramps, and gas after consuming dairy are commonly seen in children. This condition is not an allergy but a digestive issue and can be influenced by genetics, age, or damage to the small intestine from infections or illnesses.
Digestive disorders in kids
While lactose intolerance is a concerning issue that should be addressed on time, a large number of children face other digestive disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), celiac disease, or food allergies. Those children with IBS tend to have abdominal pain and irregular bowel movements, while celiac disease happens due to an immune reaction to gluten and may take a toll on one’s small intestine. Food allergies are known to trigger immune responses to specific proteins in food inviting symptoms such as rashes.
Symptoms of these disorders can overlap, including abdominal pain, diarrhea, and bloating, making diagnosis challenging and tricky. Hence, children will require proper evaluation with the doctor to initiate timely intervention. Gut issues need to be addressed on time in children.
Tips to improve gut health in children
To tackle any issues related to the gut, it is imperative to diagnose them without any delay. For lactose intolerance, a lactose tolerance test can confirm the condition under the guidance of an expert. Don’t take any medication on your own. For other digestive disorders, stool tests, blood work, or endoscopies will be recommended by the expert to get an accurate diagnosis. Moreover, experts will advise parents to pay attention to their child’s diet. Those children detected with lactose intolerance will be advised to adequate calcium and vitamin D intake. For managing other digestive disorders, elimination diets may help identify trigger foods causing inflammation, while probiotics and prebiotics can be beneficial for the gut. Limit junk, oily, canned, and processed foods and ensure to follow dietary modifications given by the expert only.
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