How to care for an infant if it is allergic to cow's milk?

An allergy to cow's milk appears when your child's immune system mistakenly perceives proteins in this product as a threat to the body and reacts to it. These proteins can be found in both infant formula and breast milk of the mother, if she consumes dairy products.

What to look for

Allergy to cow's milk is the most common form of food allergy in children. It affects about 7% of infants and young children. Infants and children are at a higher risk of developing allergies to cow's milk, if one of the family members also suffers from this problem. Many children who react to the milk protein of cows will also be sensitive to the milk of sheep and goats. Typical symptoms may include:

• Rash or hives around the mouth;
• An itchy rash or swelling on the skin;
• Swelling of the face;
• Wheezing;
• Vomiting;
• Diarrhea.

It is possible that your child will have a delayed allergic reaction to milk or dairy products. In these cases, symptoms appear more slowly. They can include:

• Regurgitation (vomiting) of milk;
• Colic;
• constipation;
• Diarrhea;
• lack of appetite;
• Eczema.

Signs of a serious allergic reaction

Rarely allergies to cow's milk can cause a serious life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis. Symptoms of anaphylaxis develop shortly after the consumption of milk or milk protein products. Seek immediate help if your child has these symptoms:

• Urticaria or swelling of the skin;
• Shortness of breath or shortness of breath;
• Swelling of the lips, mouth, throat, or tongue;
• Lethargy of the body and limbs.

Anaphylaxis can develop quickly and be life-threatening, so call your doctor immediately.

How to diagnose allergy to cow's milk

There are recommendations for general practitioners that help diagnose children with allergies to cow milk. Your child can be referred to a specialist in the allergy clinic, where you will have to take blood tests and pass a prik test. In addition, you may be recommended to eliminate cow's milk from the diet. Then, after the appropriate period without this product, it may be recommended to re-introduce it into the diet in the controlled conditions of the hospital. A delayed allergic reaction is more difficult to diagnose, so doctors recommend a special diet under the supervision of a dietitian.

What products should I avoid?

If your child is allergic to cow's milk, chances are that it also applies to milk of goats and sheep. A pediatrician or a nutritionist can help you make changes in the baby's diet. But what foods should immediately be excluded?

• Milk, yoghurt, cottage cheese, cream, butter, margarine, vegetable oil and cheese.
• Ice cream, milk drinks, milk powder, cottage cheese and condensed milk.

In addition, it is important to remember that milk is "hidden" in a lot of food, so check the labels of products such as:

• Milk sugar, lactose, milk powder, milk protein, modified milk.
• Casein and caseinates, whey protein, whey whey hydrolyzate and dairy dry whey.
• Lactose and lactalbumin.
• Low-fat dry milk and milk fat.

Lactose intolerance

Some symptoms may manifest as an allergy to cow milk, but in fact they are signs of lactose intolerance when natural milk sugar can not be processed in the body. Lactose intolerance is rare in children, and it causes diarrhea, stomach cramps and bloating.

Cramps or allergies?

Symptoms of colic and allergies to cow's milk are similar, and they are easily confused. Also keep in mind that an allergy to cow's milk can cause colic. If your child is allergic, you can see the classic symptoms of colic, such as intense crying, clenched fists. In addition, he may have eczema, diarrhea, or vomiting.

If in doubt, consult a doctor to make the correct diagnosis.

Breastfeeding and allergy to cow's milk

If you are a nursing mother, a healthy, varied diet is best for you and your baby. Nevertheless, you can begin to notice the reactions to your child after you ate certain foods, for example dairy. Proteins from cow's milk turn into breast milk, which causes discomfort in children with allergies. Symptoms can include:

• Constant crying;
• Discomfort after feeding;
• Problems with sleep;
• Upset stomach, diarrhea or constipation;
• Cold symptoms, dyspnea;
• Itching, red eyes;
• Dry skin or inflammation.

Making changes and additions to the diet of my mother

If you think that the infant breastfeeding reacts to the dairy products that you ate, talk with your doctor. It may be necessary to avoid dairy products for 2-3 weeks to see if the symptoms disappear in the child. If the culprit is still dairy products, you should see an improvement in the health of the baby within a week, although sometimes the changes are visible only after a few weeks. At the same time, you should not abandon dairy products altogether. This will depend on the severity of the child's reaction. In any case, you should discuss your diet with your doctor.

Potential hazards

Be vigilant if your child has an allergy to cow's milk, while playing the baby with other children. Ice cream, for example, very easily dissolves in pools or a sandbox, so remember this similar effect of dairy products. If you use the services of a nanny, or someone from your relatives looks after your son or daughter from time to time, make sure that they all know about the allergy and how to care for the baby properly if you are away from it .

Ask for help

If you want a doctor to help you cope with an allergy, you should tell him about all the symptoms. For this it is best to start a diary:

• Pay attention when and where reactions occur.
• Make a list of products that trigger reactions.
• Pay attention to what kind of reactions occur: rash, dyspnea.
• Note how long the symptoms persist.
• Pay attention to what you think, makes the reaction easier.

How to cope with an allergy in a child

The best way to cope with an allergy is to make sure that your baby does not use any products from cow's milk. If you are breastfeeding, consult a general practitioner to decide whether to reduce or eliminate dairy products from your diet. If your child is breastfeeding, buy cow milk substitutes.

Your doctor can help you cope with the baby's allergy to cow's milk. More complex cases, such as multiple allergies, vague diagnosis, severe reactions or slow growth, require specialist intervention.

Prospects

Fortunately, most children develop an allergy to milk of cows under the age of 5, although in some people it persists even in adulthood. Do not try to cope with it alone and decide on your own what products you need to remove from your child's diet. Talk with your doctor who can refer you to a nutritionist. The expert will help to make a nutritious diet for the baby, excluding some groups of products.