What's the difference between being allergic to milk and being lactose intollerant?

Question

My allergist says I'm allergic to milk. My mother-in-law says that just means I'm lactose intollerant. Are they the same thing?

Answer 1

They are not the same thing...

"Lactose intolerance" is a condition in which lactase, an enzyme needed for proper digestion of lactose (a sugar that is a constituent of milk and other dairy products) is not produced. Lactose intolerance symptoms may be mild or severe depending on the degree of lactase deficiency and the amount of lactose sugar consumed. Symptoms of lactose intolerance may start within 15 minutes but they may also initiate after an hour; the classical symptoms are abdominal bloating, cramping pain and flatulence.

On the other hand, "milk allergy" is as an immunologically mediated (allergic) adverse reaction to one or more cow's milk proteins. The principal symptoms are skin rash, hives, wheezing, vomiting, diarrhea, blood in stool, and abdominal pain. The symptoms may occur within a few minutes after exposure in immediate reactions, or after hours (and in some cases after several days) in delayed reactions.

Answer 2

I think if you are allergic you'll actually break out and have a typical allergic reaction to milk (hives, etc.). However, you should probably still be able to eat cheese and all that(check with your allergist). Lactose interolant means you have a lot of trouble digesting dairy products of all kinds. Some people can take lactaid pills and have an easier time at it. However, the symptoms of this would be your body having difficulty digesting the food (vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps).

Answer 3

Your mother in law is right.

That allergist should be flogged! Wrong terminolgy! You lack the enzyme to break down the lactose molecules, no biggie.

Lactaid makes yummy milk, my whole family drinks it. They have taken the lactose molecule and split it so you CAN digest it. I always find the lactaid by the regular milk-it's in your grocery store and comes 1% to full fat. Lactaid chocolate milk is outstanding, too.

Any cheese that is soft is a no no. Cheeses that are aged for a long time, like cheddar, are easier to digest. Cheddar is your friend, so buy it grated, chunked and sliced. We have found Yoplait yogurt to be the most tolerable, just in case you are a yogurt lover.

Lactaid also makes tablets that you can take before you eat something that's off limits. Pop that Lactaid pill before you go out to eat so you don't have to play the Dairy Detective game or suffer when they've claimed something is dairy free that's not.

There is a chewable Simethicone that is good for the dairy related gas, it's cheap over the counter stuff that's been around forever.

Best of luck to you!

Answer 4

They are definitely different. Someone who is lactose intolerant can drink Lactaid milk. It would not make any difference if someone is allergic to milk. Does milk just give you gas and diarrhea or does it give you a rash, hives or sneezing? I know of a boy who is allergic to milk, if he gets even a tiny bit of milk, his throat swells shut. He has almost died before.

Answer 5

When my 3 year old grandson went from baby formula to milk, he couldn't digest it and was diagnosed as being lactose intolerant, so he went back on formula for six months and now is just fine with milk and dairy products. I understand it's pretty common in children. He was put on soy formula and then I guess outgrew the intolerance to milk.

Answer 6

YES!