dairy allergy

dairy allergy


 • Allergy to milk and other allergies in young children


    What are the symptoms of food allergy in young child?
    And when the reaction to food allergy is late, what are the symptoms?
    Allergy to cow's milk protein (APLV)
    How is food allergy diagnosed in young children?
    Is it possible for a baby who only breastfeeds to have food allergy?
    What is the food allergy treatment and how long does it take to take effect?
    Is it true that food allergy goes away on its own?
    Is there a way to prevent a baby from developing food allergies?
    Is milk allergy the same as lactose intolerance?

Food allergy, like the famous allergy to cow's milk protein, is a reaction of the body to something the child has ingested. There are two types of allergy:

    More severe and rapid (IgE-mediated) reactions occur immediately after ingesting the food or within an interval of up to two hours.
    Less serious or late (non-IgE-mediated) reactions: a few hours or up to two weeks after ingestion of the food may occur; are more difficult to diagnose.


Cow's milk, egg, soy, wheat, peanut and nuts such as hazelnuts, walnuts and almonds are some of the most common food allergy agents in infants and young children. Artificial dyes can also cause allergy.

Having an allergy to a particular food in childhood does not necessarily mean that the child will remain allergic forever. Many become tolerant until 3 or 4 years of age, and developing spontaneous tolerance to food is better than induced, according to some experts.
What are the symptoms of food allergy in young child?In the case of rapid reactions, the symptoms are usually clearer:

    urticaria and redness, especially around the mouth, eyes and nose, and which can spread through the body
    swollen lips, eyes, and face
    stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes
    itchy mouth and throat irritation
    nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramps


When the reaction is more severe, the child may experience wheezing, swelling of the tongue and throat, pallor and sudden drop in blood pressure.

This set of reactions is called anaphylactic shock, and is an emergency because it puts the child's life at risk. Go to a hospital immediately.

In children with known allergies, the doctor may prescribe an injection of adrenaline that is always at hand in case of anaphylactic shock. Or it can guide the administration of corticosteroids.

Even if you are not sure if it is anaphylactic shock, give your doctor the injection, do not try to induce vomiting and take your child to the emergency room without wasting time. Fortunately, this kind of serious reaction is more rare.
And when the reaction to food allergy is late, what are the symptoms?
The most common symptoms of a delayed allergy are:

    gastroesophageal reflux
    colic
    diarrhea
    constipation
    presence of blood or mucus in poop
    atopic dermatitis, especially in babies allergic to cow's milk protein. The earlier the dermatitis appears, the greater the likelihood of food allergy.


The problem is that the above occurrences are quite present in infants and, as the allergy is unmediated, the test results will be normal.

Food allergy is just one of the possible explanations for these symptoms, so a doctor's almost detective work is necessary to rule out other causes and make the diagnosis.
Allergy to cow's milk protein (APLV)
Allergy to cow's milk protein is the most common in infants, and is known by the acronym APLV.

What causes allergy are the proteins present in cow's milk - caseins, beta-lactoglobulins and alpha-lactalbumin are the most frequent responsible for the reactions.

In general, humans can not absorb large protein molecules, but there is an exception at the beginning of life (especially the first week after birth). At this stage, the gut is more permeable for the baby to absorb the ready-made antibodies from the mother.

The problem is that this intestinal permeability opens a door for other molecules, meaning the child can be sensitized by the cow's milk protein.

Some experts claim that the main way to prevent APLV is not to give cow's milk to the young child (especially in the first year of life).

When breastfeeding is interrupted for some reason, the option are formulas that can "break" the milk protein (read below)The product packaging needs to clearly state what its components are precisely for allergy avoidance. Even so, in the case of cow's milk, it is easy to note some of the synonyms that may appear: casein, whey, milk protein, lactoferrin, aroma or natural flavor of butter, milk and cheese, among others.
How is food allergy diagnosed in young children?
The doctor diagnoses the allergy based mainly on the clinical history, that is, on the symptoms presented, and also on any exclusion tests (eliminate the food to see if there is improvement).

The laboratory tests are complementary and are not always enough to close the diagnosis.

The diagnosis can be made by the pediatrician, a gastro-pediatrician or an allergy specialist.

Among the possible tests are blood IgE measurements, which are specific immunoglobulins (antibodies). They appear to be increased in cases of IgE-mediated allergy.

There is also an examination in which small amounts of suspected substances are placed on the child's skin to observe reactions. But depending on the age and type of allergy (such as non-IgE-mediated), the tests may not be conclusive.

Another useful examination may be that of blood that is hidden in the stool.

In most cases, the allergy is evident by the clinical signs and the doctor makes the diagnosis and starts the treatment even without asking for all the exams.
Is it possible for a baby who only breastfeeds to have food allergy?
Yes, it is possible for a baby under exclusive lactation to present food allergy because the substances ingested by the mother pass into the breast milk.

Therefore, a baby allergic to cow's milk may have symptoms if the mother drinks milk or eat dairy products such as cheese, yogurt, etc.

In addition to the symptoms described above, an allergic baby may have difficulty gaining weight. In case the pediatrician is suspicious of food allergies, he will ask the mother to start an exclusion diet, failing to eat suspect foods and their derivatives.

The first suspect is always cow's milk, but if the baby does not improve it may be necessary to investigate secondary causes, such as another allergy to bovine meat (by the presence of serum albumin), egg, soy, wheat, peanut etc. It is ideal to have a nutritionist's follow-up to make the diet.

Whenever possible, it is recommended to maintain breastfeeding, with exclusion diet for the mother. Talk to your doctor to make your diet as unhealthy as possible, so there is no risk of being discouraged by breastfeeding.

It is also important to discuss with your doctor whether, in view of the more restrictive diet, you need to prescribe some supplementation for the mother, such as calcium.

When breastfeeding is not possible, there are hypoallergenic formulas, in which the proteins are "broken" (hydrolyzed or divided into amino acids) to avoid the reaction.

These formulas are expensive, but there are government programs that provide them for free at health clinics. If necessary, ask your doctor for information.

Soy-based formulas are not recommended as a first choice in children less than 6 months, because it is very common that cow-milk allergic babies are also allergic to soy.

Other vegetable milks (rice, almond etc.) can only be used under medical supervision because they may not have all the nutrients the baby needs.
What is the food allergy treatment and how long does it take to take effect?
The treatment is to keep the child away from food that causes allergy. Even so, it can take two to eight weeks for the body to "clear" and symptoms disappear. It has to have patience and persistence.

And so, as long as the child stays away from food, it will be fine.In cases of more severe allergy, extra care should be taken, such as separation of all children's utensils, cutlery, pans, blender cup, to avoid cross-contamination.

Foods whose packaging indicates they may contain traces of the allergen also need to be avoided.

Food products produced from July 2016 need to bring on the label alerts for allergy sufferers. Warning is required for 18 items, including milks, wheat, soybeans, peanuts, fish, eggs and nuts.

Sometimes the doctor also prescribes medications to relieve symptoms during a crisis, when the child is still under the effects of exposure to the allergen, or if they suffer an involuntary contact with it, which is not so uncommon, despite all the care .

But these remedies only fight the symptoms, and do not serve to help cure the allergy.
Is it true that food allergy goes away on its own?
Yes, the child may heal on his own, but that depends heavily on the type of allergy.

For example, in 90 percent of cases of babies allergic to cow's milk or eggs, there is a cure. But in the case of allergic children to peanuts the cure rate is much lower, from 10 to 20 percent.

Your child will have to follow up carefully. Over time, the doctor may propose new tests or the very slow reintroduction of the food to see if the allergy has already been cured. Sometimes the doctor asks for a challenge test done at the hospital for safety (usually applied after restricting suspect food for about 6 months and as long as the child is at least 9 months old).

It is also important to know that children who are already allergic to something have a greater possibility of allergy to some other substance, and to present problems related to allergy, such as asthma or atopic dermatitis.
Is there a way to prevent a baby from developing food allergies?
Experts have not yet reached a definitive conclusion on how to avoid allergy. It is not known, for example, whether it is best to expose infants to allergens early, to desensitize them, or to protect them.

It is a consensus among doctors that exclusive breastfeeding until at least 6 months of age reduces the risk of allergies.

In general, it is worth introducing one food at a time (especially eggs and dairy products), so that it is easier to identify a possible reaction.
Is milk allergy the same as lactose intolerance?
No. In lactose intolerance the symptoms are only digestive, because the child can not digest lactose, which is milk sugar.

Lactose is the sugar found in milk and other foods and an enzyme in the intestine, called lactase, is responsible for digesting it. But if the body does not produce enough lactase, the undigested lactose stays in the colon and causes the symptoms of intolerance.

In allergy, the reaction involves the immune system, with reactions that go beyond the digestive system, which can affect the skin, cause swelling, etc.

In addition, the most common milk allergy is cow's milk protein, not lactose. So, milks and derivatives that are said to be lactose free or lactose reduced are not a treatment for APLV because they still contain the proteins that are the cause of the symptoms.

Another difference is that in allergy the reaction happens to the smallest contact with food, while in intolerance the symptoms change in intensity according to the quantity. And lactose intolerance is quite rare in infants