Common Milk Allergy Symptoms

Milk allergy symptoms can manifest themselves in different ways and in different parts of the body. A milk protein allergy or infant milk allergy in children can cause severe discomfort and if you suspect to be suffering from one of these allergies, the attention of a doctor is needed. Symptoms of milk protein allergy are:

Skin Reactions
An itchy red rash might occur within a minute up to two hours after ingesting milk. Eczema, black circles around the eyes (known as allergic shiners) and a swollen mouth or tongue, face or throat could occur.
Digestive System Reactions
Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea are the main symptoms of milk allergy concerning the digestive tract. These symptoms will disappear after a few hours.
Respiratory Symptoms
The response of the respiratory system to milk allergies could be one of the following reactions; runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes, itchy eyes, nasal congestion, wheezing, shortness of breath, or coughing; or even anaphylactic shock.

Rate this Article

Excellent

Good

Average

Bad

Terrible

Current Rating

Causes of Milk Allergy

It is difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of an allergy in adults, but in infants the culprit is most often the fact that the child has ingested some type of baby formula with milk protein in it. This is why, especially during the first 6 months, milk products should be replaced with alternatives. An infant milk allergy can be misinterpreted by people and a doctor should be consulted if you suspect to have a child suffering from this allergy. Other causes of milk allergies are:

Genetically Inherited Factors

If you have close family members who suffer from allergies and milk allergies in particular, you might be pre-disposed to develop a similar allergy. Extra care should be taken with possible allergens such as milk.

Lactose Intolerance

The body cannot digest the lactose found in milk. This causes problems for the digestive tract such as bloating, and sharp abdominal pains. These symptoms often lead to a milk allergy as the body develops antibodies to fight off the food causing these problems, i.e. milk.

Diagnosis of Milk Allergy

There are two tests that are mainly used to diagnose milk allergies:

The Skin Test

A small incision is made in the skin of the arm or the back after which a small amount of milk protein is applied to the skin. After a small amount of time the skin might turn red or start to itch which indicates an allergic reaction. This test can help pinpoint the exact cause of an allergy.

Blood Testing

With a blood test a small amount of blood is taken from a person and sent to a laboratory. The blood will be exposed to different types of allergens such as milk protein and depending on the reaction of the blood to these allergens an allergy can be diagnosed.

Treatment of Milk Allergy

The best way to deal with a milk allergy is to avoid milk products and dairy products altogether.

Sometimes this means that vegan replacements of cheeses for example must be found. Vegan foods contain no dairy products at all. Other ways to treat milk allergies are:

Lactase Treatment

The body needs additional lactase to be able to cope with and digest dairy products. To aid the body in this process, lactase tablets or drops can be taken when eating to help the body digest these foods. However it is imperative that this medication is issued by a doctor and that you have consulted a doctor to make sure that this treatment will not cause you further harm or more allergy problems.

Epinephrine

Epinephrine or adrenaline shots might be necessary when you experience a severe reaction to your allergy resulting in loss of consciousness. The throat and mouth or respiratory tract swell up and make it difficult to breathe resulting in loss of consciousness. An epinephrine shot has to be admitted to the patient. Severely allergic people need to carry an injection with this treatment with them at all times.

Soy Based Formulas and Hypoallergenic Formulas

Infants suffering from allergic reactions to milk products should have dairy products and milk replaced with special soy based formulas or hypoallergenic toddler formula. These formulas will contain all the necessary nutrients for children but will certainly not cause the disconcerting effects that dairy products might cause in children.

Can You Prevent Milk Allergies?

Milk allergy symptoms can be avoided by not ingesting any type of food with dairy or milk ingredients. This in effect means that you have to read food label to make sure that food stuffs possibly causing milk allergies are not used in a certain type of food. A dietician can help you to compile a diet containing plenty of calcium to meet the needs of your body without ingesting any milk products.

Symptoms of Soy Allergies
Do You Know That Plain Looking Plants Cause Pollen Allergies?

Bookmark this Page Email this to your friend Add this page to del.icio.us