Difference Between Lactose Intolerance and Dairy Allergy

It may be hard at times to differentiate the difference between the being lactose intolerant or allergic with dairy products.

Six Wise.com defines Lactose Intolerance as

an inability to fully digest lactose, or milk sugar, in dairy products. It's caused by a deficiency in lactase, an enzyme produced by your small intestine that breaks down lactose.

Symptoms include bloating, gas, abdominal cramps, diarrhea. Being lactose intolerant means you have to avoid dairy products. An option for you is to take probiotics that help the body digest lactose. You can also take in small amounts of lactose such as cheeses, yogurt and kefir.

Dairy Allery however is different. According to six wise.com,

a milk allergy is caused by an immune system malfunction in which your immune system mistakenly recognizes milk proteins as being dangerous, and then produces a response against them.

Common symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, coughing or wheezing, runny nose, and skin rash. With milk allergy, you have no option but to totally avoid dairy products cause this may trigger the allergic attack. It is also wise to carry a self-injectable epinephrine in cases of emergency.