| | | | What To Do If Your Child Has a Food Intolerance |
By Sally A 
If your child develops a food intolerance, it can be difficult to know to tackle the problem. Mealtimes can suddenly become challenging, especially if he or she cannot eat foods such as milk, which may make up the bulk of your family's meals. Adjusting to your child's food intolerance does not have to make life difficult for the rest of the family though. Here is the lowdown on
What is a food intolerance?
A food intolerance is often mistaken for a food allergy, but the two are the same thing. It involves having a negative reaction to a certain food whenever it is consumed. As the name suggests, the person's body simply cannot tolerate the food. This happens because his or her body is not producing enough enzymes to properly digest the food.
A lactose (milk) intolerance is one of the most common types of food intolerance, as many people do not produce the relevant enzymes that break down the sugars that are contained in the milk. Children can become lactose intolerant after a bout of gastroenteritis, as this upsets his or her stomach. Lactose intolerance often starts after the age of two, as your child's body begins to produce less of the lactase enzyme that is needed to break down the lactose. Not all children will become lactose intolerant though, as the symptoms often present themselves much later in life.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of a food intolerance include abdominal bloating, sickness and diarrhea. They tend to appear around half an hour after eating or drinking.
How is it treated?
The easiest way to treat a food intolerance is to remove the offending food or drink from your child's diet. If the symptoms then go away, you can re-introduce the food or drink into his or her diet to see if the intolerance returns. If it does come back, it is very likely that your child is suffering from a food intolerance. Your doctor can arrange for a lactose intolerance test to confirm whether your child has this. The same can be done for other food intolerances, depending on the food or drink in question. If your child has a lactose intolerance, you can give them soya milk instead, or a hypoallergenic milk formula.
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