What are the common symptoms of lactose intolerance/milk allergy?
Many times the terms milk allergy and lactose intolerance are used interchangeably, creating confusion among people. However, they are different health conditions with different causes, symptoms, target groups and different treatments are needed to offset their effects. It is therefore imperative to outline the differences between these two terms. On one hand, when we talk about food intolerance, we refer to an adverse reaction of the body to a food substance or additive that involves digestion or metabolism (breakdown of food by the body) but does not involve the immune system. Lactose intolerance is an example of this. It occurs when a person lacks the enzyme (lactase) needed to digest milk sugar (lactose). On the other hand, food allergy is a reaction of the body’s immune system to something in a food or an ingredient in a food usually a protein. Cow’s milk, eggs, wheat, and soy are among the most common sources of food allergies in children. Milk allergy is caused by an abnormal re
