Milk Allergy
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Cow’s milk is one of the most common allergy-causing foods in children, and it’s the leading cause of allergic reactions in very young children. Milk allergy affects about 2 percent to 3 percent of infants worldwide, and its signs and symptoms can be serious enough to cause distress not just for an allergic child, but also for the child’s family. The good news is that most children outgrow a milk allergy by age 2 or 3. 44
But so many foods are made with milk and milk products these days that people with milk allergies have to pay attention to what’s in just about everything they eat. And a milk allergy is not the same as lactose intolerance — some people with food allergies can become suddenly and severely ill if they eat or even come in contact with the food they’re allergic to. 4
Milk is one of the most common food allergens in children. Studies in several countries around the world show a prevalence of milk allergy in children in the first year of life of around 2% to 5%. Many children lose their hypersensitivity to milk by age 3, but some children remain allergic for a lifetime. 20
But non-allergic reactions to milk can also occur in children. These are identified by the absence of allergic antibody and a negative allergy testing result. Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) and lactose intolerance are examples of non-allergic reactions. FPIES typically occurs in young infants, and is commonly outgrown by age 3. Lactose intolerance, on the other hand, typically occurs in older children and adults and is less likely to be outgrown. 21
A more recent large study of over 800 children with milk allergy showed that outgrowing milk allergy may not be as common as previously thought. This study showed that children with allergic rhinitis, asthma or other common food allergies were less likely to outgrow milk allergy. In addition, children with milk allergy who ever received baby formula during infancy were also less likely to outgrow milk allergy. 21
The most helpful predictor of outgrowing milk allergy was the level of allergic antibody to milk measured in the blood. This is determined by a RAST, with a level of around 2 kU/L (kiliunits per liter) or less being most predictive of having outgrown milk allergy. Most allergists find that following the allergic RAST antibody level to milk is very helpful in determining when a child may have outgrown a milk allergy and when he may be ready for an oral food challenge under medical supervision. Unfortunately, some children may never outgrow their milk allergy, and their food allergy may persist into adulthood, or even indefinitely. 21
Milk allergies are over-diagnosed by the general population and under-diagnosed by doctors. The real incidence of milk allergies lies somewhere between the folklore and the skeptical view of many physicians. Around five percent of children and adults seem to be either allergic to milk or intolerant of it. One carefully controlled study showed that 75 percent of infants under one year of age were allergic to cow’s milk. Cow’s milk allergy is more likely to develop in children who have a family history of milk allergy. The good news is that of the approximately two percent of children who are truly allergic to milk, many will outgrow this allergy by the time they are two or three-years-old. 41
A new study published in the November issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology suggests that 18-year-old Jeremy is not alone. The study showed that most children who had a milk allergy as infants did not outgrow the disease before entering elementary school, according to Dr. Robert Wood, chief of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. Wood, one of the study’s authors, said that finding was contrary to previous research. 14
A major effort has been made by companies manufacturing infant formulas to produce “hypoallergenic” milk products by various methods of protein hydrolysis. One study showed whey hydrolysate formula reduced the incidence of atopy in the first year of life in infants at risk; 21.8% of infants on whey hydrolysate presented atopic symptoms compared with 48.6%. Formulas with partially hydrolyzed protein have not been as ’safe” as manufacturers had hoped and promised as Carnation found out after they marketed their “Good Start” infant formula and many allergic reactions including anaphylaxis were reported. In animal models, Jarret had demonstrated that small doses of cow’s milk antigens are more sensitizing than larger doses. 1
Rapid-onset reactions come on suddenly with symptoms that can include irritability, vomiting, wheezing, swelling, hives, other itchy bumps on the skin, and bloody diarrhea.In rare cases, a potentially severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis can occur and affect the baby’s skin, stomach, breathing, and blood pressure. Anaphylaxis is more common in other food allergies than in a milk allergy. 2
If you suspect that your infant is allergic to milk, call your baby’s doctor. The doctor will likely ask about anyfamily history of allergies or food intolerance and then do a physical exam. There’s no single lab test to accurately diagnose a milk allergy, so your doctor might order several tests to make the diagnosis and rule out any other health problems. 2
In addition to a stool test and a blood test, the doctor may order an allergy skin test, in which a small amount of the milk protein in inserted just under the surface of the child’s skin with a needle. If a red, raised spot calleda wheal emerges, the child may have a milk allergy. 2
Fact: Milk allergy is much more common in children than in adults. However, by age 6, over 80 percent outgrow the allergy. Symptoms of milk allergy include hives, vomiting and breathing problems after consuming a dairy product. Many adults may experience symptoms similar to milk allergy, as adults often have trouble digesting the sugar in milk. This is called “lactose intolerance.” It isn’t a true allergy. The symptoms of lactose intolerance are bloating, cramping, nausea, gas and diarrhea. 10
Like many food allergies milk allergy may be outgrown eventually by children, although a percentage of children do not outgrow their allergy. Milk allergy is more likely to be outgrown than peanut allergy. 3
Lactose intolerance may appear after the intestinal lining has been injured by allergy or infection. This is called secondary lactose intolerance, and it lasts only until the intestinal lining is healed. It is especially common in children after a diarrhea-producing viral illness and the reason for delaying the introduction of milk during the recovery stage. 41
References
The Panacea offers these health-extracts to help people investigate health-related subjects in greater depth using the references given in each paragraph. Kindly note that these are current extracts from the web, meant for research, and that these are not meant to be medical advise. For all your health-related needs you must consult trained and licensed personnel.
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