A Milk Allergy Affects Many Children

 
Milk allergies are the most common of any food allergy and that number is even higher in children. A cow's milk is typically one of the first foreign protein substances that is encountered by infants in their early lives. It is estimated that around 2% to 3% of all infants in the more developed countries. Additionally, up to 50% of them will develop other food allergies or even asthma. That's the bad news. The good news is that around 85% of them will lose their allergic reaction to milk once they become 3 years old.

The problem with milk is that it contains quite a few protein allergens that can cause reactions in a tiny immune system. The two biggest allergens are whey and casein, but either of these can cause an allergic reaction. The differences between the two components is as follows: the casein is the curd that is produced when the milk is left out to sour and the whey is what is left over after the curd is removed.

Common Symptoms That Your Child May Exhibit

Some of the symptoms that can quickly show themselves after an infant has been exposed to milk are vomiting, wheezing, hives, irritability, or blood in the stool. Sometimes they can experience a more severe reaction called anaphylaxis that can affect their stomach, breathing, blood pressure, or skin all at once. While not as common in milk allergies as it is in other food allergies, it still can occur and does require immediate medical attention.

Milk Intolerance Differs From An Allergy

While a milk intolerance may seem like an allergy as the symptoms can be similar, it actually is a delayed reaction to a food protein that is usually harmless. It is not detected by an allergy blood test so that is one way of determining which condition your child has. Your doctor will also likely use a process of elimination to confirm the exact cause. Some of the different symptoms that can appear in an intolerance are the digestive tract ones including diarrhea, cramps, and vomiting. With allergies, hives and some respiratory symptoms might show up more often. Treatment of an intolerance is pretty much the same as with an allergy: a change in their diet as recommended by your doctor.

The possibility of milk allergies in infants is a big reason why switching to whole milk is not recommended until they reach 1 year of age. Children should be breastfed or use a formula up until that age, and only switched over under the supervision of their doctor. The majority of babies who develop a milk allergy are initially bottle fed as breastfeeding tends to help them avoid the problem when they are switched over to cow's milk. Breastfed children have also been proven as less likely to develop other food allergies later in life.

Limiting or completely eliminating milk from the diet will be the likely course of action recommended by your child's doctor to provide them relief. They will need to consumer other supplements or eat certain foods to get the necessary nutrients like vitamin D, so it will be very important for you to monitor their diet. The doctor may also advise them to wear a medical alert bracelet incase they have a serious reaction. If they are in school it is also important to alert the school nurse about their allergy. One good thing about milk allergies in children is they are likely to outgrow them by the time they are 6 years old (upwards of 80% of kids do).

 

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