First Things First- Diet #2 (Dairy Intolerance and Allergy)

What is the Difference Between a Dairy Allergy and a Dairy Intolerance?

For starters, we need to distinguish between allergies and intolerances, which are two very distinct physiological reactions.

Allergies are brought on by the ingestion of normally harmless substances that the body recognizes as foreign (such as casein or lactose). This in turn causes the release of antibodies to fight off their presence in the body. Consequently, the body will release chemical triggers such as histamines to alert the body to the invading matter, which can result in inflammation. Allergies can range in severity, and at their most intense can result in anaphylactic shock.
Food intolerances, on the other hand, do not involve the immune system. Intolerances result when an enzyme needed to digest certain substances does not exist in the body. Those suffering from lactose intolerance, for example, do not have sufficient amounts of the enzyme lactase, which is responsible for breaking lactose down in the small intestine. Without the necessary amount of lactase, the lactose gets sent straight into the large intestine, causing a range of digestive problems such as flatulence, bloating and stomach cramps.
With some 30% of Americans suffering from lactose intolerance, it is the most common food intolerance in the country. And unlike dairy allergies, which many children grow out of, lactose intolerance only worsens in age. This is because, as we get older, the amount of lactase our body produces naturally decreases.

How Would I Know if I had a Dairy Allergy or Intolerance?

If you experience any of the following symptoms after ingesting dairy you should consult your doctor about the possibility of a dairy sensitivity.
Symptoms of dairy intolerance include:
cramping of the stomach
bloating and/or gas
diarrhea
nausea
headaches

In addition to these symptoms, dairy allergies may result in:
constipation
asthma
skin rash or hives
eczema
nasal congestion
blood in urine or stools
rectal itching or fissures
anaphylactic shock

Source:http://www.wdxcyber.com/dairyallergy.html

A simple test

A simple test for lactose intolerance is to drink at least two 8-ounce glasses of milk on an empty stomach and note any gastrointestinal symptoms that develop in the next four hours. The test should then be repeated using several ounces of cheese (which does not contain much lactose). If symptoms result from milk but not cheese, then the person probably has lactose intolerance. If symptoms occur with both milk and cheese, the person may be allergic to dairy products (very rarely can lactose intolerance be so severe that even eating cheese will cause symptoms).

Source:
http://www.truestarhealth.com/Notes/1229008.html

Interesting Reading- http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;118/3/1279- "Lactose Intolerance in Infants, Children, and Adolescents" Melvin B. Heyman, MD, MPH for the Committee on Nutrition