Milk Allergies

Overview

Milk allergies are one of the most common types of allergies that affect kids and toddlers. Two or three percent of kids under three years of age have milk allergies from birth and most of them outgrow the allergy only after three years of age. Milk allergies cause distress not just for an allergic child, but also for the child's family.

Types

Milk allergies and lactose intolerance are not the same thing. Milk allergies involve the immune system when there is a reaction, while lactose intolerance just causes things like bloating and digestive problems after consuming milk. The exact kinds of milk allergies will vary in terms of the symptoms that manifest, as well as the causes of those symptoms.

There are various specific types of milk allergies. They are as follows:

• Type 1: Within minutes of ingestion of small amounts of cow's milk, symptoms will develop.
• Type 2: Several hours after consuming cow's milk, symptoms will occur.
• Type 3: Symptoms will occur after 24 hours of ingestion and will only occur if large amounts of cow's milk have been consumed.

Symptoms

Symptoms of milk allergies vary with each person. Common symptoms that occur by consuming milk or milk products are wheezing, hives and vomiting.

When someone with milk allergies are exposed to milk for a long time, other more serious symptoms occur like stools that can contain mucus or blood, loose stools and diarrhea, severe coughing and wheezing, stomach pains, hives and other rashes and a runny nose.

In severe cases, milk allergies can cause anaphylaxis. This is an allergic reaction in which breathing becomes very difficult and sometimes stops altogether. Signs of anaphylaxis are fast heartbeat with a dangerous drop in blood pressure, swelling of the throat and internal airways, dizziness and lightheadedness.

Causes/Risk Factors

The same process that causes all other food allergies causes milk allergies. The major factor that causes these allergies is an immune system. A person with milk allergies has an immune system that recognizes milk proteins as dangerous substances and starts producing immunoglobulin antibodies to fight them. These cause the body to release things like histamine and other chemicals that are supposed to protect you from what your immune system senses is dangerous. It's these chemicals that cause the symptoms.

There are two proteins in milk that cause the body to react this way, casein and whey. A person can be allergic to just one or both of the proteins.

Factors that put a person at risk of milk allergies include age and family history. Age is a factor because most people with milk allergies are children. And if one or both parents have a history of milk allergy or other allergies, the risk is increased. Many kids who have milk allergies have other allergies too. But often milk is always the first one to outgrow.

In general, children with atopic dermatitis are at a higher risk of developing food allergies.

Tests/Diagnosis

A simple skin test or blood test is used to determine whether a person has milk allergies or not.

Treatment

Avoiding milk and milk products is necessary to overcome milk allergies. In the case of an allergic reaction, doctors recommend over-the-counter antihistamines, though some may be prescribed as well. In the case of a severe life-threatening reaction like anaphylactic shock, an injection of epinephrine or adrenaline is essential.