Milk Intolerance
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First of all, milk intolerance is not the same as a milk allergy or lactose intolerance. A milk allergy involves the immune system reacting to proteins in milk, while in milk intolerance there is no immune reaction. Additionally, milk contains a lot more than just lactose, and lactose intolerance is an intolerance to only the lactose in the milk. 20
Most children with a milk allergy will outgrow it by the time they turn 3, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI). Most of the rest will outgrow it by the time they head to school. Children who develop milk intolerance will not outgrow it. 8
Cow’s milk protein intolerance is not a true allergy and will not give a positive result in the blood or skin prick test. However, it is essential that investigations are done to determine whether cow’s milk intolerance is to the protein or the lactose in milk. If your baby is diagnosed as having an intolerance to cow’s milk protein he may still be able to have some cow’s milk and milk products in his diet. 41
Milk intolerance is a common condition. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, between 30 million and 50 million Americans are intolerant to lactose to some degree. Almost 75 percent of all African Americans and 90 percent of Asian Americans are intolerant to lactose. 4
Lactose intolerance (milk intolerance) is more common in older children and adults who complain of stomach upset, diarrhea or bloating after drinking milk or eating dairy products. This is not an allergy. Allergy skin test and blood test are negative in people that have lactose intolerance as the reason for their discomfort. 25
Sometimes, following a gastro-intestinal illness, children who have been happily drinking milk from babyhood can develop a sudden temporary intolerance to milk. Intolerances to food are slightly different to allergies, and the reactions they cause are generally less severe. A food allergy is caused by the body?s autoimmune system reacting in an abnormal way to a certain food, and causing an allergic reaction, such as wheezing, rashes or sneezing. An intolerance is a reaction by the body itself to certain foods, causing symptoms such as bloating and fatigue. These symptoms may take a while to manifest themselves, and it can sometimes be difficult to tell which foodstuffs are causing the problem. 13
People sometimes confuse lactose intolerance with cow’s milk intolerance because the symptoms are often the same. However, lactose intolerance and cow’s milk intolerance are not related. Lactose intolerance is a problem caused by the digestive system, while cow’s milk intolerance is an allergic reaction triggered by the immune system. 7
Lactose intolerance is clearly distinct from an allergy to milk. The milk allergy shows up early in children and produces itching, hives, nausea, and stomach pain. The only treatment for this rare condition is complete avoidance of milk and milk products, Dr. Bajaj states. 7
Fortunately, milk allergies rarely cause such a severe reaction, Dr. Goldstein says. And, he says, “one important difference between milk allergy and lactose intolerance is that lactose intolerance is not a life-threatening condition. In fact, people with lactose intolerance often can consume small amounts of milk without experiencing any symptoms.” 8
Milk allergies aremost common in young children, who usually develop the condition within the first six months of life. The Food and Network Anaphylaxis Allergy(FAAN) estimates that 2.5 percent of children under the age of two are affected by an allergy to cow’s milk. Parents usually discover that an infant has a milk allergy when the child has a reaction to baby formula. 35
People with lactose intolerance should talk with their doctor about diet adjustments. Some people simply drink milk that has lactase enzyme added to it. Others take lactase pills (over the counter) just before drinking regular milk, eating ice cream or consuming other dairy products. 25
Two types of hypoallergenic formulas are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for infants with a milk allergy. One is made from cow?s milk in which the proteins have been broken down into small particles; the other is made from amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. 8
One way to help prevent a milk allergy in children is to breast-feed. Breast-feeding reduces the risk of an allergic reaction to cow’s milk, although it doesn’t eliminate it completely, the AAAAI says. The protein in cow’s milk consumed by the mother can find its way into the breast milk. 8
The effects of ‘histamine’, which the body produces in response to any allergen (not only milk proteins)�produces symptoms which involve not only the gastro-intestinal tract but also the skin, nose, throat and lungs. See ‘Symptoms’ below for examples). Fortunately the majority of allergic reactions to milk are not serious. However, a tiny number of highly sensitive children can suffer extreme and even life threatening symptoms. 30
Check food labels for milk byproducts, including curds, whey, and non-fat dry milk powder. People with a very low tolerance for lactose might experience problems with foods containing small amounts of lactose, such as breads, margarine, lunch meats, salad dressings, snacks, and mixes for cookies, pancakes, and biscuits. 7
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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