Cow's milk allergy occurs in babies after 4 weeks

Cow's milk allergy is noticeable in affected infants four weeks after birth

02/01/2011

Around six percent of newborns suffer from cow's milk milk allergy. Allergy is the most common food allergy after egg white allergy, as Ulrich Fegeler from the Professional Association of Pediatric Adolescents in Cologne currently reports. "An allergy to cow's milk proteins usually manifests itself about four weeks after starting a diet with components of cow's milk," said the pediatrician.

Skin reactions and intolerance to cow's milk
Affected infants have skin reactions (wheals and blisters) in cow's milk allergy immediately after milk consumption. In children with eczema worsens u.a. the eczema. „In small neurodermatitis parents should have tested whether their child is allergic to cow's milk protein“, recommends Dr. Ulrich Fegeler. In addition, the milk intolerance manifests itself mostly with nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, colic and dyspnoea. If infants can not be breast-fed exclusively in the first six months after birth, babies with a diagnosed milk allergy will require a "highly hydrolyzed formula". "If the allergy does not diminish even after enrollment, parents and children should learn to read food labels correctly," says Fegeler. A dietician can help. "With the pediatrician, parents should clarify whether an emergency kit is required and an immunotherapy makes sense."

A cow's milk allergy goes by for most affected children
However, cow's allergy decreases in about 80 percent of affected children to the age of school age. "If older children are still allergic to cow's milk, there is little chance of the allergy disappearing without trace, so oral immunotherapy can be a great relief for this age group, with about two-thirds of the children receiving cows' milk protein in certain amounts after such treatment to take“, explains Dr. Fegeler.

About 25 different proteins are contained in cow's milk. The proteins also contain allergenic substances such as casein, beta-lactoglobulin and alpha-lactalbumin. Milk products containing milk powder, whey, milk protein, casein, caseinates, lactalbumin or lactoglobulin may be harmful to children with cow's milk protein allergy. (Sb)

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Food intolerances in children
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Picture: almotti