What is Milk Allergy?

Posted by Maja Maartens on June 29th, 2009 filed in allergies

Cow’s milk is one of the most common allergy-causing foods in kids, and it’s the leading source of allergic result in quite young children.

Milk allergy affects around 2 percent to 3 percent of newborn worldwide, and its symptoms and signs can be important enough to cause distress not only for an allergic kid, but also for the child’s mother and father. However the pleasant news is that nearly all children grow out of the milk allergy by the age 2 or 3.

Allergic reactions frequently happen a couple of minutes to a few hours after you consume milk ” but in some cases it can be days before symptoms and sign show. Signs and symptoms range from mild to harsh and might include wheezing, vomiting, hives and digestive problems. Rarely, milk allergy can cause anaphylaxis – a severe, life-threatening reaction.

Milk Allergy Symptoms

Three types of milk related allergy symptoms have been established:

1. Symptoms set off at once subsequent to ingesting cow’s milk. Responses generally affect the skin, causing hives and/or eczema.

2. Symptoms start several hours after eating/drinking cow’s milk. Symptoms of this type are mainly diarrhea and vomiting.

3. Symptoms begin more than twenty hours after consuming. The key symptom for this type is diarrhea.

Symptoms of milk allergy can affect the skin, causing rashes or hives; the digestive tract, causing bloating and diarrhea, and the respiratory system, causing runny nose and asthma.

Here is a more inclusive list of symptoms:

* vomiting

* hyperactive behavior

* diarrhea

* asthma

* hives

* runny nose

* rashes

* stuffy nose

* ear infections

* bloating

* watery eyes

* eczema

* allergic shiners (black around the eyes)

* recurrent bronchitis

* failure to thrive

The above symptoms are not restricted to people suffering from milk allergy. Once you become familiar with food allergy symptoms, you will note that numerous foods share a variety of common symptoms, such as: bloating, rash, and runny nose.

What is the Difference of Milk allergy and Milk Intolerance?

It is important to tell apart a true milk allergy from milk protein intolerance or lactose intolerance. Unlike a milk allergy, intolerance doesn’t implicate the immune system. Milk intolerance triggers different symptoms and involve diverse action than does a true milk allergy. Ordinary signs and symptoms of milk protein intolerance or lactose intolerance include digestive problems, such as bloating, gas or diarrhea, after consuming milk.

Milk Allergy Prevention and Cure

The only way to prevent an allergic reaction is to avoid milk and milk proteins altogether. This can be complex, as milk is a ordinary food ingredient. Despite your best efforts, you or your child may still come into contact with milk.

Medications, such as antihistamines, may reduce signs and symptoms of a milk allergy. These drugs can be taken after exposure to milk to control an allergic reaction and help relieve discomfort. If you or your child has a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), you may need an emergency injection of epinephrine (adrenaline) and a trip to the emergency room.

If you’re at risk of having a severe reaction, you or your child may need to carry injectable epinephrine (such as an EpiPen) at all times.

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