[Prevalence of cow´s milk allergy and lactose intolerance among Mexican late adolescents].

Objective: To determine the prevalence of cow´s milk allergy and lactose intolerance in a sample of late adolescents.

Methods: Through a population-based study, data corresponding to students with aged 15 to 18 years were analyzed.

Results: A total of 1992 adolescents was analized. The prevalence of cow´s milk allergy was 1.4% (95% CI: 0.2% to 0.8%) and the prevalence of lactose intolerance was 0.5% (95% CI: 0.2% to 0.8%). Adolescents with cow´s milk allergy had fewer gastrointestinal symptoms (p = 0.036), but more skin (p < 0.001) and respiratory (p = 0.028) ailments than adolescents with lactose intolerance.

Conclusions: The manifestations associated with cow's milk consumption in late adolescents seem to correspond mainly to cow´s milk allergy than to lactose intolerance.