? Dairy intolerance

[Tish5478]

Hi I wonder if you can help me out.

My son in 15 months. We moved him onto cows milk just after his first birthday in November. From mid December he has been having terrible problems filling his nappy. He tenses up, and trembles. He locks his legs in a bent position and then absolutely screams when having a bowel movement. We initially thought it was constipation that he has suffered from a few times before so did all the usual stuff - increasing fibre, giving prune juice etc but there was no change. However, the bowel movements have always been soft - not loose but definitely soft.

We saw the GP just after Christmas who told us this pain was normal as the bowel spasms. When we were not happy, she gave us lactulose, which we used for a week and then discontinued as it made absolutely no difference, to the consistency of the stool nor the pain he was in.

We saw another GP who suggested that it may be a food allergy, particularly as he has a rash over his face too. We started on a lactose free diet for two weeks and there was no change. We then went to a complete dairy free diet for a further 10 days but still, no change.

We then started using an acidophilus powder that a dietitian had recommended. It had an immediate effect of a very loose stool, similar to a breastfeed stool, 3-4 times a day (as opposed to once a day). We started using the acidophilus every other day and the loose stool continued - but no pain and no tensing at all. We also began using an exzema cream from the GP for the face rash which has improved the rash a great deal.

5 days after starting the acidophilus, we started using cows milk again. By day 4 of the cows milk, my son was in pain again and has continued to be in excrutiating pain and tensing again. We have increased the acidophilus dose and have recommenced a complete dairy free diet.

We are awaiting a paediatric appointment at the end of February and a dietitian appointment at the beginning of March. Our GP is reluctant to refer us to an allergy specialist so we will be seeing a general paediatrician.

Does this sound like a food allergy/intolerance? When he is in pain, it is heartbreaking and if there is something we can be doing to ease this then we are willing to try anything.

Many thanks for any advice you can give.

[Dr Adam Fox]

hi
A general paediatrician is a good place to start as allergy is only a possible cause here. If you want to try something useful beforehand, rather than just cutting out milk (in all forms eg cheese /yoghurt) you could try a brief period of going both milk and soy free as many children with this type of milk allergy also have a problem with soy. However, you will need help to get this diet right whilst ensuring they get enough iron/calcium. Ask your GP if you could consult a dietician to get advice on this.