What should you know about temporary lactose intolerance?

Lactose is the natural sugar in milk. The small intestine normally uses lactase to break it down. If the intestinal lining is irritated after an infection or another digestive problem, lactase activity can fall for a while. Undigested lactose then reaches the colon, where it is fermented and draws in fluid. This can lead to bloating, abdominal pain, rumbling, wind, or diarrhoea after milk or other lactose-containing foods.

The amount that causes symptoms differs between people, and some tolerate yoghurt or hard cheese better than milk. Symptoms after dairy can also have other causes, so a temporary pattern should be considered in context rather than assumed from one episode.

Record what you eat, the portion, the timing of symptoms, and bowel changes. A clinician may suggest a short, structured reduction in lactose followed by gradual reintroduction, rather than removing all dairy indefinitely. Choose suitable calcium and protein sources during any restriction, and seek Nutrition Counselling if planning meals feels difficult. Do not use repeated restrictive diets in a child without professional guidance. Food Intolerance Testing may be considered when the history is unclear or symptoms continue.

Seek prompt help for severe or persistent abdominal pain, blood in the stool, repeated vomiting, dehydration, fever with significant diarrhoea, or unexplained weight loss. Arrange assessment when symptoms continue despite avoiding a suspected trigger, occur without dairy, or disturb sleep and daily activities. A clinician can check for infection, coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel problems, allergy, or another explanation.

Could this be temporary lactose intolerance or another digestive problem? Which foods should I reduce, and how can I maintain calcium and protein? When should I try reintroducing lactose? Would testing help? Which symptoms would need urgent assessment?