Since we seem to be having the same discussion on lactose intolerances and allergy I thought it would be best to make up a sticky for this using some of the great information we have from our members on this.

From CadysMommy:

Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance is not an allergy to milk or lactose. Lactose intolerance is an inherited deficiency of intestinal lactase enzyme which results in the milk sugar (lactose) remaining undigested in the gut, and then being fermented by gut bacteria to produce lactic acid. This causes bloating, gas, cramps and diarrhea, which often occurs several hours after ingestion of lactose. This is treated by substituting a lactose reduced milk (e.g., Lactaid milk) or taking lactase enzyme (Lactaid tablets) with milk products. Lactose intolerant people can often take small amounts of milk and lactose with no symptoms (usually up to 100 ml or 3 oz. cow's milk) and strict milk avoidance is unnecessary. Strict avoidance of lactose worsens the problem. Continued ingestion of lactose helps the gut continue to be able to digest some lactose.


And from Minnie:

Here's some good info on lactose intoll, and the different types.

http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns...tolerance.html (http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/lactose-intolerance.html)

The symptoms are vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and failure to thrive.

I would think with everything I learned about lactose intol, that Andrew wouldn't have made it this long without a diagnoses, so I wouldn't count on this test finding anything as far as true genetic lactose intol.

Causes:

Congenital lactose intolerance is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait and is very RARE.
Primary lactose intolerance is due to low levels of lactase, which develop AFTER childhood.
Secondary, or acquired, lactase deficiency may develop in a person with a healthy small intestine during episodes of acute illness. This occurs because of mucosal damage or from medications. Some causes of secondary lactase deficiency are as follows:
Acute gastroenteritis
Giardiasis
Ascariasis
Crohn disease
Celiac sprue
Tropical sprue
Radiation enteritis
Diabetic gastropathy
Carcinoid syndrome
Whipple syndrome
HIV enteropathy
Kwashiorkor
Chemotherapy
Gastrinoma
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Let us add the information here on this sticky as we get it. I know I have some great sites and info as well.

Thanks to all who contribute!

Here's the info. I posted earlier on dairy allergies:

“Virtually all infants who develop cow’s milk allergy do so in the first year of life, with about 80% ‘outgrowing’ their milk allergy by their fifth birthday. About 60% of cow’s milk-allergic infants experience IgE-mediated reactions, or the more classical ‘immediate’ reactions affecting the skin (hives and eczema), gastrointestinal tract (crampy abdominal pain and vomiting), and the respiratory tract (nasal congestion, sneezing and wheezing). Nearly 25% of these milk-allergic infants retain their sensitivity into the second decade of life, and 35% go on to develop other food allergies.

Non IgE-mediated milk allergy affects primarily the gastrointestinal tract resulting in a number of different allergic disorders: milk-induced enterocolitis syndrome, proctocolitis syndrome, allergic eosinophilic esophagitis, etc., that can lead to poor growth and failure to thrive.”

I got this info from the following website: http://www.allergicchild.com/milk_allergy.htm