How to solve lactose intolerance in newborns?

After many newborns are born, the mother's first reaction is to feed them with breast milk. However, after feeding, they find that the baby will have symptoms such as indigestion, hiccups, diarrhea, and spitting up. Then they switch to formula milk, but the situation remains the same. This gives parents a headache. In fact, this is a typical symptom of lactose intolerance. What can be done for newborns with lactose intolerance? Can they still eat breast milk? If not, what should the children eat? Moms, don't worry, let's learn together.

1. Drink special formula milk

If the baby is born with lactase deficiency, he can drink "allergy-free milk powder" or "anti-diarrhea milk powder" under the guidance of a doctor. It is a special infant formula milk powder suitable for a small number of infants who are born allergic to milk protein or lactose and have diarrhea due to lactose intolerance. This special formula milk powder mainly replaces the lactose in ordinary milk powder with maltodextrin or glucose polymer, and makes adjustments to the protein. Since these milk powders are no different from other infant milk powders in nutrition, they are special formula milk powders that can be safely consumed by infants during diarrhea. According to the characteristics of its hydrolyzed components, it can be divided into: partially hydrolyzed milk powder, suitable for infants with mild diarrhea or allergies. Completely hydrolyzed milk powder, suitable for infants with severe diarrhea and allergies.

2. Drink in small amounts and multiple times

Each lactose intolerant person has a different reaction. Some children experience bloating and diarrhea after drinking a glass of milk, while others experience reactions after drinking half a glass of milk. This means that milk can be tolerated to a certain extent. Therefore, if you divide a glass of milk into two times, or drink small amounts more often, you can also resolve lactose intolerance.

Generally, lactose refers to breast milk or cow's milk. Intolerance will cause diarrhea and other conditions. Lactose intolerance is caused by low secretion of lactase, which cannot completely digest and decompose the lactose in breast milk or cow's milk. It is a non-infectious diarrhea, also known as lactase deficiency. Lactase deficiency is a widespread global problem. The incidence is high in the Far East. Most people do not show symptoms, but diarrhea and other symptoms often occur in newborns and infants who mainly feed on breast milk. The peak age of lactose intolerance varies in different countries. It is 7 to 8 years old in Japan and 3 to 5 years old in Africa. A survey of 1,168 healthy children aged 3 to 13 in the four major cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Harbin in my country showed that the incidence of lactase deficiency is high, and 87% of children with lactose intolerance occur at 7 to 8 years old. The main carbohydrate in breast milk and cow's milk is lactose. If the secretion of lactase at the tip of the villi on the surface of the small intestine, especially the jejunum, is reduced or the activity is not high, the lactose in the milk cannot be completely digested and decomposed. Some lactose is fermented by the colonic flora into lactic acid, hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide. Lactic acid stimulates the intestinal wall, increases intestinal peristalsis and causes diarrhea. Carbon dioxide produces flatulence and increases intestinal peristalsis in the intestine, making children restless, and occasionally may induce intestinal spasms and colic. The increase in lactic acid also reduces the pH value of the stool.

1. Congenital lactase deficiency is caused by congenital lactase deficiency or insufficient activity. The incidence is related to race and genetics and is an autosomal recessive inheritance. Most lactose intolerance in newborns in my country belongs to this category. Since the amount of enzyme deficiency and the degree of activity vary from person to person, the severity of symptoms varies.

2. Secondary lactase deficiency often occurs after enteritis. The top of the intestinal villi is damaged during enteritis, resulting in enzyme deficiency. Lactose intolerance diarrhea occurs after enteritis. The diarrhea will not stop until the lower end of the villi grows upward to the top and can secrete enough lactase, which usually takes 0.5 to 2 months. Many newborns and premature babies are temporarily intolerant to lactose during the neonatal period due to immature intestinal mucosa and temporary low lactase activity. They have frequent bowel movements, which decrease after the activity returns to normal.

3. Adult lactase deficiency is the most common, which is related to genetic changes caused by generations of human eating habits. It manifests as a gradual decrease in lactase activity until it disappears with age, causing lactose intolerance or lactose malabsorption. The age of onset and incidence vary by race and region. The onset age in Asians is 7 to 8 years old, and in some European and American ethnic groups it is about 20 years old. The incidence rate in yellow and black people is higher than that in white people.

1. Infants and young children with early lactose intolerance may experience vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, intestinal rumbling, abdominal distension, abdominal pain, flatulence, and other problems, and are prone to crying.

2. If lactose intolerance is not treated in time, it will cause infants and young children to dislike milk, affecting their growth and development.

3. Milk contains trace elements that are essential for the growth and development of human bones, muscles, organs, brain, etc. Infants and young children who are lactose intolerant and cannot absorb nutrients in milk and who are averse to milk generally show various symptoms of malnutrition.

4. Galactose formed by lactase in milk is an essential substance for the baby's brain development. Long-term lactose intolerance affects the intellectual development of the infant's brain.

5. At the same time, due to lactose intolerance, after drinking milk, the milk cannot be completely decomposed, digested, and absorbed in the body of infants and young children. It is retained in the intestinal cavity and forms various harmful substances under the action of bacteria, causing intestinal flora imbalance and gastrointestinal problems. Long-term lactose intolerance can easily lead to chronic diarrhea in children that is difficult to cure. Some children will develop diaper rash.