Fructose intolerance is a general term that can be used to describe two separate conditions. The first – and more serious – condition is called hereditary fructose intolerance. Children with hereditary fructose intolerance are born without the enzyme that is needed to break down fructose. In order for a child to have hereditary fructose intolerance, he must receive an abnormal gene from both parents. The other type of fructose intolerance is called fructose malabsorption. This less serious condition is characterized by an inability to properly digest