ALLERGY: how NOT to get a reaction
cOWS’ MILK aLLergy IS The LeaDIng cauSe OF FOOD aLLergy In InFanTS anD chILDren unDer Three yearS OF age. WhaT cauSeS ThIS aLLergy anD hOW can ParenTS Manage TheIr chILD’S aLLergy eFFecTIVeLy?
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ows’ milk and dairy foods form a major part of the diet of babies and young children and are a rich source of energy, protein, calcium, iodine, vitamin a and riboflavin – all of which are essential for growth and development, and bone and dental health.
Over the last few years, however, cows’ milk allergy (cMa) has been increasingly diagnosed in primary care.
The allergy is one of the most common food allergies in children and while it is primarily caused by cows’ milk, it can also be attributed to sheep, goats, buffalo and other mammals.
cMa should not be confused with lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance is an intolerance to the sugar lactose and is usually due to a temporary lack of the enzyme lactase, which breaks down lactose.
10 - ScOTTISh PharMacIST
cMa, on the other hand, is an abnormal response by the body’s immune system to milk and products which contain milk.
While it can be present in children who are exclusively breastfed, it is much more common in formula-fed infants.
The good news is that up to 90 per cent of children will grow out of the allergy by the age of three, but this is entirely dependent on factors such as the age at which they developed the allergy, the severity of the symptoms and whether the allergy is delayed or immediate.
What causes CMA? as with any food-related allergy, cMa is caused by an immune system malfunction. In the case of cMa, the immune system mistakenly identifies certain milk proteins as harmful, triggering the production of immunoglobin e (Ige) antibodies to neutralise the protein (allergen).
The next time a baby or child comes into contact with these proteins, Ige antibodies recognise them and signal the immune system to release histamine and other chemicals, causing a range of allergic signs and symptoms.
There are two main proteins in cows’ milk that can cause an allergic reaction:
• casein, which is found in the solid part or curd of milk that curdles
• Whey, which is found in the liquid part of milk that remains after milk curdles
Symptoms
The allergic reaction caused by cows’ milk usually happens after a child consumes milk. Symptoms can range from extremely mild to extremely severe and can include wheezing, hives, vomiting and digestive problems.
Other symptoms and signs of milk allergy include: • Itching of tingling feeling around the lips or mouth
• Swelling of the lips, tongue or throat
• coughing • Shortness of breath
In some cases, symptoms can take longer to develop. children suffering from cMa may, for example, experience abdominal cramps, a runny nose, watery eyes and loose stools or diarrhoea. Babies affected by cMa may also experience colic. In rare cases, the allergy can cause a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction where the child’s throat closes over, preventing him or her from breathing.
Risk factors
Some children may be at increased risk of developing milk allergy. That is because they may: • have other allergies. Milk allergy may develop before other allergies. >
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