Who Gets Lactose Intolerance?
A person may be or may become lactose intolerant for different reasons: • Ethnic background. People of Asian, African, Native American, and Hispanic backgrounds are more likely to develop lactose intolerance at a young age. • Other problems with the digestive tract. People with irritable bowel syndrome or Crohn’s disease have a reduced level of the lactase enzyme. Those with other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, such as celiac disease, can also have problems digesting lactose. • Medications. Certain antibiotics can trigger temporary lactose intolerance by interfering with the intestine’s ability to produce the lactase enzyme. • Infection. After a bout of infectious diarrhea, some kids can develop a temporary lactose intolerance that usually improves after a few days or weeks. • Age. As people get older, their bodies usually stop producing the lactase enzyme, and most people will naturally become lactose intolerant over time.
