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When a child struggles with chronic constipation the tendency is to increase the amount of fiber and fluid in his diet or to start using laxatives. Very rarely would one suspect that dairy product such a cheese or yogurt could be the cause. Interestingly enough, recent studies have found a strong connection between dairy allergies and constipation in children.

The classic symptoms of dairy intolerance and dairy allergies have been well-documented. Many children suffer from symptoms like diarrhea, eczema, ear infections and congestion after having cow’s milk . A study by the University of Palemo in Italy concluded that the protein in cow’s milk can cause chronic constipation in some children. The children who partook in the study all had severe constipation that was unresponsive to medication. When they stopped taking dairy products for a period of two weeks 68% were no longer constipated and the redness, swelling and fissures on their bottoms healed. Some of the children in the study had other symptoms like runny noses, eczema and wheezing that also improved. In some children their only symptom was constipation. The study concluded that the protein found in dairy leads to swelling of the intestines which in turns leads to constipation.

It is also believed that products such as yogurt, ice cream and cheese are high in saturated fats. These fats, in the form of cholesterol, as well as milk proteins sticks to the colon and starts blocking the digestive system, leading to painful, chronic constipation.

Lactose intolerance is the body’s inability to digest lactose – milk sugar. This is normally due to a deficiency in the enzyme, lactase which help digest lactose. Symptoms like bloating, gas and diarrhea has long been associated with lactose intolerance. In recent years it became clear that lactose intolerance can cause chronic constipation as well.

Often parents might already have a suspicion that dairy is to blame for their child’s chronic digestive problems. There are tests available to confirm lactose intolerance or a dairy allergy. Elimination diets is often help to pinpoint whether dairy is a problem or not.

Taking products to help digest lactose sometimes bring relief, but overall the best route would be to avoid dairy all together. This might seem like a daunting prospect to parents dealing with children whose staple food seems to be made of cow’s milk. There are many substitutes for dairy on the market nowadays such as goat’s milk, soy and rice milk.

When weighing the long-term effect of chronic constipation against the effort it takes to keep to a dairy-free lifestyle, the choice shouldn’t be too hard. Constipation can lead to the following nasty symptoms.

• Severe abdominal pain.
• Irritability and anger outbursts.
• Headaches.
• Malnutrition.
• Bad breath (halitosis)
• Fever.
• Body odor. When the bowels are blocked up toxins cannot be released and therefore the body gets rid of toxins via the skin. This leads to an unpleasant smell.
• Anal fissures are small tears in the lining of the intestinal canal which can bleed when passing stools. It can cause burning, pain, discomfort and bloody stools.
• Hemorrhoids – swelling and inflammation of the veins of the rectum or anus.
• Fecal incontinence. Chronic constipation causes the muscles of the rectum to stretch. These muscles can be permanently damaged causing immense emotional stress when a child – or adult – do not reach a bathroom in time. In time a child will become socially withdrawn when other children realize that he or she has an incontinence problem.

In the end, withholding dairy from your child may be worth all the effort.

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