Dairy Allergies in Children
Many parents may have heard about lactose intolerance in children, but they may not be aware that some kids—and even babies—may be allergic to milk. Sometimes, an exclusively breastfed baby is so allergic to milk proteins that they even react to their mother’s milk because she consumes dairy products.
It can be quite challenging to get a proper diagnosis of a child’s milk allergy. For one thing, food allergies are not well understood among the entire medical community. And some doctors believe a true milk allergy that causes a baby to react to mother’s milk is far too rare to be seen among their patients. Of course, symptoms of allergy among children too young to articulate themselves are also problematic for most parents and doctors to allow for a prompt diagnosis.
However, milk allergy is the most common food allergy in younger children and affects 2-3% those under 3 years old. Luckily, many kids outgrow it, but some will remain allergic for a lifetime.
Milk allergy causes a wide range of symptoms. When a child is allergic to milk, their immune system overreacts to proteins in the milk. Each time the child consumes dairy products; their body thinks these proteins are harmful intruders.
When the immune system responds to fend off the “intruder”, it causes an allergic reaction, which releases chemicals including histamine in the body. This chemical release may cause these symptoms:
- wheezing
- difficulty breathing
- coughing
- hoarseness of voice
- throat tightness
- stomachache
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- itchy, watery, or swollen eyes
- hives
- red spots
- swelling
- a drop in blood pressure causing lightheadedness or even loss of consciousness
Allergic reactions to milk vary not only person to person, but the same individual can experience different reactions at different times. Babies with milk allergy may also exhibit signs of colic or acid reflux. Some reactions may be are mild and involve only one system of the body, but other reactions can be more severe and involve multiple parts of the body.
If you are concerned that your child may be experiencing milk allergy, Covenant Allergy and Asthma can help. From diagnosis to treatment and management, we are here to help your family find relief!