When occurs allergy to milk?
This type of allergy can occur at any time of life but is most common in infants. Between 2% and 3% of infants have a milk allergy,
which usually passes with time.
If you think your baby has a milk allergy, consult your doctor. There are tests that can diagnose the problem and there are
alternatives to powdered milk and dairy products – that your doctor can show you.
What is allergic to milk?
Milk allergy occurs when the child’s immune system mistakenly believes the protein in milk is dangerous and tries to fight against her.
This triggers an allergic reaction, which can cause restlessness and irritability of the child,an upset stomach and other symptoms.
Milk allergy occurs to breastfed babies?
Breastfed babies have a lower risk of allergy to milk than those who are fed whit powdered milk, but researchers do not fully understand why
some children are allergic to milk and some aren`t. It is considered that in many cases, the allergy is genetic.
When decreases the risk of allergy to milk?
Usually, milk allergy goes away in time until the age of 3-5 years, but some children never get rid of it.
Milk allergy isn`t the same as lactose intolerance, an inability to digest lactose, rare in infants but more common in older
children and adults.
Milk allergy symptoms
Symptoms of allergy to cow’s milk protein will occur in the first months of life. Your baby may show symptoms immediately
after eating (rapid response) or after 7-10 days (slow reaction).
The most common reaction is slow. Symptoms may include loose stools (possibly bloody), vomiting, eructation (belching), refusing food,
irritability or colic, and skin rash.
This type of reaction is more difficult to diagnose because similar symptoms may occur with other health problems. Most children will
get rid of this form of allergy by age 2 years.
Rapid response occur suddenly with symptoms that can include irritability, vomiting, slow breathing, swelling, hives, all kinds of itchy
sores and bloody diarrhea.
In rare cases, can cause potentially severe allergic reaction called anaphylactic shock – which affects the skin, stomach, blood and baby’s
breath. Anaphylaxis is more common in other types of allergies foods than cow’s milk.
Diagnosing an allergy to milk
If you suspect that your baby is allergic to milk, consult your doctor. Your doctor will likely ask about family history of allergy or
food intolerance that already exist in your family, then will make a physical exam to child.
There is no specific laboratory test to accurately diagnose a milk allergy, so your doctor may recommend a series of tests to diagnose and
eliminate other health problems.
Besides blood and stool tests, your doctor may recommend a skin allergy test in which a syringe is inserted under the skin surface with a
small amount of cow’s milk protein . If you see a red patch called wheat, the child may be allergic to milk.
Your doctor may ask you to do a test diet. After a week in which you haven`t given milk to child, the doctor will ask again to give him milk,
then wait several hours for an allergic reaction. Sometimes doctors repeat this test to reconfirm the diagnosis.
