Intoleranţa la lactoză la copil

Lactose intolerance is a non-immune food adverse reaction due to a deficiency in lactase, an enzyme secreted by the intestinal epithelium. There are genetic and acquired forms. The congenital form of infantile type with birth on­set is rarisime. The genetic form of adult-type lactase de­fi­cien­cy, or the primary lactase deficiency, is attributable to relative or absolute absence of lactase that develops in childhood at various ages in different racial groups and is the most common cause of lactose intolerance. In pe­dia­trics, the most commonly diagnosed lactase deficiency is secondary to inflammatory, allergic, autoimmune or in­fec­tious diseases that affect intestinal mucosal integrity. The correct differential diagnosis of malabsorption syn­drome avoids the unnecessary explorations, inap­pro­priate hospitalizations and restrictive regimens.