LACTOSE
INTOLERANCE

It is the inability of the human body to absorb the
ingredients of animal milk or its derivatives and consumption of these foods
can cause abdominal discomfort, and sometimes diarrhea, occurring within a few
hours after eating.





DEVELOPMENT 


On the surface mucosa of the small intestine there are
cells that produce, store and release a digestive enzyme (yeast) called
lactase, responsible for digestion of lactose. When this is poorly absorbed
becomes fermented by the intestinal flora, producing gas and organic acids,
resulting in so-called osmotic diarrhea, with great loss of intestinal

fluids.

People are born without the ability to produce lactase,
and as babies can be breastfed even as appears relentless diarrhea. 
 

On the other hand, at any time of life can see this
inability to produce a temporary inhibition or, for example, the sequence of a
food poisoning that has brought damage to the intestinal mucosa. Also, the
difficulty may stem from chronic conditions such as intestinal lesions in
Crohn's disease and Whipple's disease, celiac disease, giardiasis, AIDS,
malnutrition and also

by surgical removal of large parts of the intestine (short
gut syndrome). 
 

The congenital deficiency is common in premature infants
born at less than thirty weeks of pregnancy. 


In newborns of pregnancies completed, cases are rare and
hereditary.  

The concentration of lactase in the intestinal cells and
is abundant at birth will decrease with age.

In the U.S., one every four or five adults may suffer from
some degree of lactose intolerance. The descendants of white Europeans have a
lower incidence of 25%, while the Asian population reaches 90% the problem. In
african-Americans, the Indians and Jews as well as in Mexico, lactose
intolerance reaches levels higher than 50% of

individuals.



SYMPTOMS



It varies from person to person and according to the
amount ingested.

Thus, most of lactase deficient can ingest the equivalent
of one or two glasses of milk a day, provided with broad ranges rather than
daily. Although a minority, are not rare people who, from small, avoid or do
not like milk, even without realizing that they are so because the milk and
dairy products makes them evil. 

 
Patients notice an increase in abdominal noise, notice
that the belly is swollen and eliminating more gases. When the dose of milk or
dairy is greater appears watery diarrhea accompanied by cramps. The complaint
of burning anal and diaper rash is because the fecal acidity becomes intense
(pH 6.0). 

Most patients who only have an intolerance to lactose, no
evidence of malnutrition, even greater weight loss. When this occurs, there may
be intolerant of the association with other gastrointestinal diseases.



MEDICAL DIAGNOSTICS


Lactose intolerance often is suggested by clinical
history, especially when the data are defined and specifically asked.

The reduction of symptoms after several weeks of
lactose-free diet serves as a diagnostic test / treatment.

The Lactose Tolerance Test is used in our country because
we do not have the breath test, had the most sensitive and certainly the
simplest of methods.

Between us, the patient to drink a glass of water
containing 50 to 100 g of lactose and it is drawn blood four to five times
within two hours. When the difference between the blood dosage of lactose
fasting and the peak of the curve of the other measures prove to be less than
20 mg%, the test has "flat curve" and is considered positive, indicating
poor

absorption of lactose in them.

There is possibility of error in diabetics, among others.
The occurrence of diarrhea, even in the laboratory or in the first hour and
then reinforces the conclusion positive diagnosis of lactose intolerance.



TREATMENT AND PREVENTION



Once characterized the diagnosis, new symptoms may be
prevented by not using milk and dairy products. Using them, prevention is by
taking synthetic yeast prior to any ingestion of lactose. It should be noted
that several medications including antidiarrheal and antirheumatic products
contain lactose excipient called, or in powder or liquid required in order to
contain the basic substance in a tablet or solution, it is important when
assessing the side effects reported by users.