Symptoms of milk intolerance in children
Milk allergy is a type of food allergy that occurs most often in childhood. According to statistics, every twelfth inhabitant of our planet had such a pathology as a child. The main cause of allergy to cow's milk in infants is considered to be the imperfection of the digestive system and the presence of 25 antigens in milk, each of which can trigger an allergy.
What contributes to the emergence of allergies:
- genetic predisposition (presence of allergic reactions in relatives);
- improper nutrition of the mother (excessive use of sweet yogurts and low-quality dairy products, which contribute to allergies).
- artificial feeding (the later cow's milk is introduced into the child's diet, the lower the risk of allergies);
- pathological course of pregnancy (threat of miscarriage, preeclampsia, fetal hypoxia, etc.);
- pregnancy in adverse conditions (work in hazardous production, industrial pollution).
What can be replaced with milk in case of cow's milk protein allergy in a child will be discussed later.
Symptoms of milk intolerance
Clinical manifestations of this type of food allergy are diverse and concern not only the baby's digestive system.
Skin signs of lactose intolerance: urticaria, milk scab, atopic dermatitis and Quincke's edema. The latter is particularly dangerous and without qualified medical assistance can lead to deplorable consequences.
Manifestations from the respiratory system: allergic runny nose, stuffy nose, wheezing, cough. Please note that dry wheezing, coughing and wheezing when breathing are the first signs of false croup.Symptoms of milk intolerance from the gastrointestinal tract: flatulence and intestinal colic, frequent vomiting after feeding, vomiting, diarrhea. Insufficient weight, streaks of blood in the feces are alarming symptoms that should alert parents.
Then we will talk about how milk allergy manifests itself in adults.
Symptoms of "milk" allergy in adults
The reaction of the immune system to milk protein is standard and manifests itself in the form of reddening of the skin, rash and itching. Flatulence, stomach pain, diarrhea and constipation are symptoms of allergies from the gastrointestinal system. Swelling of the nasopharynx, runny nose, sore throat and sneezing after consuming dairy products also indicate the presence of an allergy. To confirm (or rule out) a food allergy, experts recommend testing for lactose intolerance.
Diagnostics
In order to make the correct diagnosis, in addition to taking an anamnesis and examining the child, the doctor will prescribe a number of laboratory studies and clinical tests. The latter are especially important, even if there are signs of lactose intolerance in children. What research will show:
- General blood analysis - a moderate increase in leukocytes. The rate of erythrocyte sedimentation is also increased.
- General analysis of urine - increased protein and the presence of cylinders with half-destroyed eosinophils.
- Biochemistry of blood - increased number of immune complexes, increased protein.
- Immunogram - predominance of immunoglobulins (antibodies) of class E.
- Detection of lymphocytes and antibodies sensitized to milk proteins is one of the main tests, the accuracy of which is more than 92%.
In addition, skin scarification tests are recommended to clarify the diagnosis. They will help answer the question "can a child be allergic to goat milk?"
Our website https://dobrobut.com/ presents a complete list of diagnostic measures performed in the clinic. After laboratory tests, a consultation with an allergist is possible, who will answer all your questions and tell you what to feed a baby after a year with a milk allergy.
Treatment of milk allergy
Parents should take treatment seriously. First, change your diet. Secondly, to exclude the possibility of the allergen getting into the food. If possible, switch the baby from formula milk to breastfeeding. If not, consult a pediatrician. By the way, the best mixture for milk allergy in an infant will be a mixture based on milk protein hydrolysers.
Help with an allergy attack:
- antihistamine drugs;
- antispasmodics and antidiarrheals;
- local adrenomimetics;
- systemic corticosteroids;
- local corticosteroids in the form of a spray or ointment.
Also, be sure to consult your doctor and ask if you can have fermented milk products if you have a milk allergy.
Forecast
In most cases, milk allergy passes in children after the age of three. However, in some babies, such intolerance persists for life. In this case, there is only one advice - the diet should consist of a complete exclusion of dairy products. If desired, cow's milk can be replaced with soy, oat and rice milk.
If you need specialist advice, make an appointment with a pediatrician. The doctor will help to prepare a diet for a child of any age and will tell whether a newborn baby may be allergic to breast milk. Please contact us, we are always happy to help.
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