LACTOSE INTOLERANCE

I'm beginning to suspect that Jonathan might be lactose intolerant.

Yesterday, I gave him just one scoop of his Karihome goat milk and he ended up with lots of secretion and retching from afternoon, the whole 10 hours, stopping only at around 2am.

This is the 2nd time it has happened.  The first just last week but I caught that on time.

I'm not sure myself too because 3 hours after that one feed, I gave him the Isomil.  So could it be that I shouldn't mix feedings?

I googled and found this:

What is lactose intolerance?

Lactose intolerance is the inability or insufficient ability to digest lactose, a sugar found in milk and milk products. Lactose intolerance is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme lactase, which is produced by the cells lining the small intestine. Lactase breaks down lactose into two simpler forms of sugar called glucose and galactose, which are then absorbed into the bloodstream.

What causes lactose intolerance?

The cause of lactose intolerance is best explained by describing how a person develops lactase deficiency.

Primary lactase deficiency develops over time and begins after about age 2 when the body begins to produce less lactase. Most children who have lactase deficiency do not experience symptoms of lactose intolerance until late adolescence or adulthood.

Researchers have identified a possible genetic link to primary lactase deficiency. Some people inherit a gene from their parents that makes it likely they will develop primary lactase deficiency. This discovery may be useful in developing future genetic tests to identify people at risk for lactose intolerance.

Secondary lactase deficiency results from injury to the small intestine that occurs with severe diarrheal illness, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, or chemotherapy. This type of lactase deficiency can occur at any age but is more common in infancy.

What are the symptoms of lactose intolerance?

People with lactose intolerance may feel uncomfortable 30 minutes to 2 hours after consuming milk and milk products. Symptoms range from mild to severe, based on the amount of lactose consumed and the amount a person can tolerate.

Common symptoms include

• abdominal pain
• abdominal bloating
• gas
• diarrhea
• nausea

The reason why I suspect is because of the highlighted sentence above.  although Jonathan didn't have alot of diarrhea episodes, he did have quite a few of vomiting incidents.

There are 2 tests.  One is to consume lactose beverage and test with the breathe for hydrogen and the other is to use the stools of the child.  Yesterday I tried to send his stool for testing but was told the lab is closed on Sunday and we cannot keep stools overnight.

Checked with GP and he said stool tests are very expensive.  The other way is through blood test.  But he said to let Jonathan continue with the soy milk for another few months first.