# Fever sensation after drinking milk? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 18, 2019, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fever-sensation-after-drinking-milk/835712 "2019-06-18T22:13:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2019, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fever-sensation-after-drinking-milk/835712/1 "2019-06-18T22:13:01Z")
Anybody else get a weird, slightly feverish (hot forehead, body feels mildly sick) sensation after drinking whole milk (Vitamin-E fortified, if it makes any difference?) ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2019, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fever-sensation-after-drinking-milk/835712/2 "2019-06-18T22:16:25Z")
Also slight headache and nausea (This probably belongs more in MPSIMS than GQ), wonder if it’s just lactose intolerance? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2019, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fever-sensation-after-drinking-milk/835712/3 "2019-06-18T22:21:06Z")
Lactose intolerance is a digestive issue. It manifests as gas, bloating, and diarrhea. None of the symptoms you mention are in any way connected to maldigestion of lactose. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2019, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fever-sensation-after-drinking-milk/835712/4 "2019-06-18T22:59:50Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Lactose intolerance is a digestive issue. It manifests as gas, bloating, and diarrhea. None of the symptoms you mention are in any way connected to maldigestion of lactose. Untrue. GI bloating can cause vaso-vagal responses including diaphoresis, malaise, and light-headedness. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fever-sensation-after-drinking-milk/835712/5 "2019-06-19T01:26:36Z")
O.K. Hmm. I’m a nurse. (ICU) That sounds like an allergy. Not lactose intolerance. the O.P. is describing fever symptoms. That’s an immune response. He’s allergic to dairy. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fever-sensation-after-drinking-milk/835712/6 "2019-06-19T01:41:19Z")
**Velocity** , that’s pretty much textbook food allergy. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fever-sensation-after-drinking-milk/835712/7 "2019-06-19T02:21:05Z")
Well, you’ve got a split between the Doc and a nurse. You could try drinking Lactaid milk and see if you get the same result. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fever-sensation-after-drinking-milk/835712/8 "2019-06-19T02:25:51Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Untrue. GI bloating can cause vaso-vagal responses including diaphoresis, malaise, and light-headedness. I’m no doubt that is true in general, as you say. But I’ve read much of the literature on LI, as well as received email from literally thousands of people complaining about it, and none of the symptoms listed are typically reported. I realize after all that experience and exposure that a particular individual may report almost anything under the sun. But I sure wouldn’t start with LI as a response to the OP. And just after whole milk? First ask what happens after other dairy ingestion. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fever-sensation-after-drinking-milk/835712/9 "2019-06-19T03:17:02Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > And just after whole milk? First ask what happens after other dairy ingestion. Good question. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fever-sensation-after-drinking-milk/835712/10 "2019-06-19T11:50:18Z")
> [@armedmonkey](#): > > O.K. Hmm. I’m a nurse. (ICU) That sounds like an allergy. Not lactose intolerance. the O.P. is describing fever symptoms. That’s an immune response. He’s allergic to dairy. Around here, if you’re allergic to dairy, it probably means you’ve got a rye-grass allergy. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fever-sensation-after-drinking-milk/835712/11 "2019-06-19T11:53:16Z")
Sounds like milk fever. You’re low on calcium. ---
**Author:** ![Helmut\_Doork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e8c25b/32.png) [@Helmut\_Doork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helmut_Doork)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fever-sensation-after-drinking-milk/835712/12 "2019-06-19T20:06:54Z")
Drinking milk should be limited to kittens and small children, not really good for adult humans, with or without side effects. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fever-sensation-after-drinking-milk/835712/13 "2019-06-19T21:12:17Z")
> [@Helmut\_Doork](#): > > Drinking milk should be limited to kittens and small children, not really good for adult humans, with or without side effects. Nonsense. You can make the case that whole milk and its derivatives shouldn’t be used if you’re trying to lose weight, but other than that milk is entirely healthy and good for you if you choose to drink it or have it in any of its other forms. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fever-sensation-after-drinking-milk/835712/14 "2019-06-19T21:49:04Z")
As long as you’re among the 35% of the world’s population without lactose intolerance. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fever-sensation-after-drinking-milk/835712/15 "2019-06-19T22:53:30Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > As long as you’re among the 35% of the world’s population without lactose intolerance. Which is me, so I’m good and can happily chug my choco milk with my peanut butter & jelly sammich before bedtime. The other 65% will just have to remember what bothers them. But they can feel free to envy me and my lactose-managing superpowers. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2019, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fever-sensation-after-drinking-milk/835712/16 "2019-06-20T02:06:53Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > As long as you’re among the 35% of the world’s population without lactose intolerance. That turns out not to be true either. The vast majority of the 65%\* with lactose intolerance can have some milk products without any bothersome symptoms. That’s why various milk products are a rapidly growing business niche in many Asian nations. LI is not all or nothing. Most people produce some amount of the enzyme lactase, which digests lactose. As long as you don’t overwhelm that amount you can dig in. Additionally, many milk products are designed to be low in lactose, like yogurt (the naturally sour kind with live bacteria cultures). Aged cheeses are also almost lactose free, as is butter. Not to mention the huge range of lactose-free milks and other dairy products now on the market. Many people, of course, are more sensitive to lactose. I’m one of them. Even so, I can take lactase pills - easily available in any drugstore - with food and not have to worry about symptoms as long as I’m careful not to overdo it. All sorts of foods can produce digestive symptoms. Yet people still eat them in carloads because the mild reactions are less bothersome than doing without a favorite food. The percentage of people who must entirely avoid milk for medical reasons is quite small. Nevertheless, milk itself is a valuable, healthy food product. So are peanuts. I react to peanuts but I don’t deny their value to people who don’t react to them. It’s just as foolish to denigrate milk for that reason. - Do not trust any numbers or percentages about lactose tolerance or intolerance. All are estimates from inadequate studies.