Q uestion: I get diarrhea and cramping from milk. Is this an allergy that can be skin tested for?
A nswer: A common type of milk intolerance or sensitivity is lactose intolerance where the gut does not have enough lactase to break down the lactose sugar. This leads to water retention in the gut causing the pain and diarrhea. This is not mediated by the allergy antibody IgE and therefore is not a classic food “allergy”. Patients can tolerate “Lactaid” milk or milk if they have lactase supplement.
