Food Allergy -- milk: Milk and soy allergies are particularly common in infants and young children. These allergies sometimes do not involve hives and asthma, but ... more about Food Allergy -- milk.
Food Allergy -- milk: A milk allergy is an adverse reaction by the body's immune system to milk or food containing milk. The body's immune system produces immunoglobulin E (IgE - an antibody) and histamine in response to contact with the allergen. The specific symptoms that can result can vary considerably amongst patients from a severe anaphylactic reaction to asthma, abdominal symptoms, eczema or headaches. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Food Allergy -- milk is available below.
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Milk and soy allergies are particularly common in
infants and young children. These allergies sometimes do not involve
hives and asthma, but rather lead to colic, and perhaps blood in the
stool or poor growth. Infants and children are thought to be
particularly susceptible to this allergic syndrome because of the
immaturity of their immune and digestive systems. Milk or soy
allergies in infants can develop within days to months of birth.
Sometimes there is a family history of allergies or feeding
problems. The clinical picture is one of a very unhappy colicky
child who may not sleep well at night. The doctor diagnoses food
allergy partly by changing the child's diet. Rarely, food challenge
is used.
If the baby is on cow's milk, the doctor may
suggest a change to soy formula or exclusive breast milk, if
possible. If soy formula causes an allergic reaction, the baby may
be placed on an elemental formula. These formulas are processed
proteins (basically sugars and amino acids). There are few if any
allergens within these materials. The doctor will sometimes
prescribe corticosteroids to treat infants with severe food
allergies. Fortunately, time usually heals this particular
gastrointestinal disease. It tends to resolve within the first few
years of life.
Exclusive breast feeding (excluding all other
foods) of infants for the first 6 to 12 months of life is often
suggested to avoid milk or soy allergies from developing within that
time frame. Such breast feeding often allows parents to avoid
infant-feeding problems, especially if the parents are allergic (and
the infant therefore is likely to be allergic). There are some
children who are so sensitive to a certain food, however, that if
the food is eaten by the mother, sufficient quantities enter the
breast milk to cause a food reaction in the child. Mothers sometimes
must themselves avoid eating those foods to which the baby is
allergic.
There is no conclusive evidence that breast
feeding prevents the development of allergies later in life. It
does, however, delay the onset of food allergies by delaying the
infant's exposure to those foods that can prompt allergies, and it
may avoid altogether those feeding problems seen in infants. By
delaying the intro (Source: excerpt from Food Allergy and Intolerances, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID)
Human milk contains at least 100 ingredients not found in formula. Healthy babies are not allergic to their mother's milk, although they may have a reaction to something the mother eats. If she eliminates it from her diet, the problem usually resolves itself. (Source: excerpt from Breastfeeding: NWHIC)
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