Can you develope lactose intolerance all of a sudden?

How do the symptoms for lactose intolerance progress?

• I think my 4 year old daughter is developing an intolerance to lactose. She has been complaining of off-and-on pains in her stomach for the last month or so, and just this weekend threw up twice after drinking chocolate milk or eating nachos. I was wondering if throwing up or stomach pains is something lactose intolerant people experience, or if it is more violent. Please let me know if you are personally familiar with lactose intolerance. I especially want to know the following: 1) Is throwing up common with people who are very lactose intolerant? 2) Can symptoms increase gradually? 3) How old were you when you became lactose intolerant? etc. Also, before anyone chastises me...I have a doctor's appointment scheduled for my daughter next week. I just don't want her to suffer between now and then. Lactose Intolerance only occurred to me this week, and I thought the stomach pains were excuses to not do things I was telling my daughter to do...like go to bed. Help!

• Answer:

  Symptoms of lactose intolerance include abdominal cramps, bloating, gas, diarrhea, abdominal distention, weight loss, malnutrition, slow growth, floating stools, foul-smelling stools, and nausea. Symptoms range from mild to severe and begin about 30 minutes to 2 hours after eating or drinking foods containing lactose. While there are tests for lactose intolerance, an easy way to determine if milk is causing the problem is by eliminating all milk products for a week. Use soy milk products to replace milk. There is a difference between lactose intolerance and cow's milk intolerance. Though symptoms are similar, the two are not related. Being intolerant to cows milk is an allergic reaction. Lactose intolerance is caused by a lack of lactase, an enzyme that helps in digesting the lactose (sugar) in milk. **Someone with lactose intolerance won't be able to have ANY milk products, including goat's milk. Primary lactase deficiency develops over time. After about age 2 the body begins to produce less lactase, THOUGH MOST PEOPLE WILL NOT NOTICE SYMPTOMS UNTIL THEY AER MUCH OLDER. Certain ethnic and racial populations are more affected by lactose intolerant than others. The condition is least common among people of northern European descent. Babies that are born prematurely (before the 3rd trimester) are also more likely to be lactose intolerant, because lactase levels do not increase until the third trimester of a woman’s pregnancy.