Explain about the Lactose Intolerance?

Lactose is the name of the sugar found in milk. Lactose intolerance, you must be aware by now, occurs when the body is unable to breakdown the lactose that is in consumed foods. In children, lactose intolerance is presented with persistent diarrhoea lasting more than 14 days. Other symptoms may include stomach pain, cramping and gas. Shedding of lactase producing villi  in the intestine cause the lactose malabsorption.  It is mostly a transitory phenomena and patients recover when the mucosa returns to normal. During the malabsorption period, a lactose free restricted diet is given to control the diarrhoea.

Confirmatory test for lactose intolerance is the test of stools for its pH and reducing substance. It is confirmed for lactose intolerance if the pH is below 5.5, and reducing substance are more than 1% in stool. While most infants can tolerate milk-based and dairy products, many children develop intolerance: as they mature. Usually the first line of defence is to avoid dairy products altogether.