6 month old got norovirus - is he now lactose intolerant?

[Nickname1980]

Two weeks ago, my husband, myself and my 6-month-old all got the norovirus. Nasty.

But my LO is still having explosive diarrhoea two weeks later! He probably has diarrhoea 5-10 times a day. I am wondering if he has developed a temporary lactose intolerance. I am taking him to the doctor tomorrow, but I wondered if anyone else has had any experienced with this?

And how long does allergy testing take?

He's breastfed 80% of the time, but gets a bottle of formula at night. I don't have the supply anymore to cut this bottle out although I will just try and build it up again if lactose intolerance turns out to be what's happening.

He's also just started weaning and I have given him dairy a few times in the last two weeks.

Any advice? Anyone else been through anything similar?

Temporary lactose intolerance can happen after a nasty bug such as noro. I think it's worth getting your GP to send off a sample.

Lactose is naturally in breast milk btw. I'm not sure in what amount.

My ds developed lactose intolerance after a nasty bug when he was around 5 months old. The bug went after a couple of days but he continued to have horrible explosive, green and mucousy diarrhoea for several more weeks. The hv was fairly useless, and I can't really remember how it resolved itself, but it did go away on its own eventually. He was still exclusively bf at that stage so I just fed him frequently to make up for lost fluids. And used plenty of cream to prevent against nappy rash. I'm really sorry I can't remember more, but hopefully the doctor can help.

Oh, have you got any dioralyte? You can buy it from the pharmacy, replaces any electrolyte losses.

Colief. I'm pretty sure that's the stuff that basically contains lactase which is the enzyme that breaks down lactose.

Would that work anyone?

your breastmilk is full of lactose too. you could try colief as it breaks down lactose

My LO developed temporary lactose intolerance following rotavirus when he was 7 months. I put him onto aptimil lactose free formula for a few weeks and it stopped immediately. I kept him on it for a few weeks and then gradually reintroduced normal formula....but I had stopped breast feeding at 6 months.

www.breastfeeding.asn.au/node/284 - says to continue breastfeeding and that it takes time for the gut to heal and produce lactase again

Thanks everyone! This is so useful!

Very interesting and thank you for sharing,

We are going exactly through this, I had gastroenteritis about two weeks ago (worst tummy bug Ive had for years) ds 4.4months came down with a milder version and now so far a week of lactose intolerance he is now bottle feed hungry hipp milk, we are now switching back to aptamil no.1 in the hopes that his poop may return to normal.

He is even fuzzing at the bottle which I find odd as he does like his milkie.

Try pro biotics, my ds had numerous problems with feeding as a baby and when lactose free/ dairy free etc didn't help the dietician gave us probiotic to add into the milk, worked a treat x