What is Milk Allergy?

Cow’s milk is one of the most common allergy-causing foods in kids, and it’s the foremost cause of allergic reactions in very young kids.

Milk allergy influences roughly 2 percent to 3 percent of toddlers worldwide, and its symptoms and signs may be difficult enough to cause anguish not simply for an allergic child, but also for the child’s family. But the fine news is that the largest part of children outgrow the milk allergy by the age 2 or 3.

Allergic reactions ordinarily happen a few minutes to a few hours after you eat/drink milk ” but from time to time it can be days before symptoms and sign occur. Signs and symptoms range from mild to terrible and may consist of 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 in fast following consuming cow’s milk. Reactions mostly affect the skin, causing hives and/or eczema.

2. Symptoms begin some hours after ingesting cow’s milk. Symptoms of this type are mainly diarrhea and vomiting.

3. Symptoms set in more than twenty hours after ingesting. The main 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 full listing 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. When you become familiar with food allergy symptoms, you will observe that several 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 essential to tell between a real 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 need different care than does a true milk allergy. General 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 single way to prevent an allergic reaction is to avoid milk and milk proteins altogether. This can be complicated, as milk is a usual 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 dangerous 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 critical reaction, you or your child may need to carry injectable epinephrine (such as an EpiPen) at all times.

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