Comparison of Knowledge of Lactose Intolerance and Cow's Milk Allergy Among the Medical Students at Two Universities in Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Lactose intolerance is a condition causing an inability to absorb and digest lactose leading togastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and flatulence. Because of the similarities between lactose intolerance andcow's milk allergy, it is becomingnecessaryto increasephysicians'understanding of thesetwo diseases. Consequently, we aimedto determine the level ofknowledgeoflactose intolerance and cow's milk allergy amongmedical students. An electronic survey was distributed to 399 medical studentsattwo universitiesin Saudi ArabiafromOctoberto November 2022. The majority of the respondents had an inadequate knowledge of both lactose intolerance and cow's milk allergy (99.75% and 97.99%, respectively). According to the study'sresults that showedalack of awareness among health-related students, further studies and awareness programsarehighly recommended.