• What is milk allergy?
  • Tin a babe exist allergic to breastmilk?
  • Tin milk allergy result in formula allergy?
  • Is milk allergy the same as lactose intolerance?
  • What causes milk allergy in babies?
  • What are the risk factors for developing milk allergy?
  • What are the symptoms of milk allergy in babies?
  • How is milk allergy in infants diagnosed?
  • How is milk allergy treated?
  • What to feed a babe with a milk allergy?
  • Tin milk allergy also crusade dairy allergy?
  • Do babies outgrow milk allergy?
  • How to prevent a milk allergy in infants?
  • FAQs nigh milk allergy in babies

Milk allergy in babies is fairly mutual. Breastmilk is the sole source of nutrition and free energy for babies for the first six months, and babies seldom show signs of allergies to breastmilk. However, formula milk or cow'south milk may trigger allergic reactions. Farther, the signs and symptoms of the allergy are typically evident immediately or within an hour or two of consuming the milk.

Read on to know more most milk allergy in babies, including its causes, signs, treatment, and substitutes you may utilise in identify of milk to provide the required diet.

What Is Milk Allergy?

Milk allergy is the condition when the body's immune system mistakes the milk poly peptide to exist a foreign body or something that harms the body and attacks it (1). Since the allowed system behaves defensively, like it would when fighting a pathogen, the body displays symptoms of an illness.

About two-three% babies suffer from a milk allergy.

Do note that we are referring to allergy related to the milk sourced from animals. And that brings us to the side by side question.

Tin A Babe Be Allergic To Breastmilk?

No. An infant cannot be allergic to breastmilk since it is made specifically for consumption by the human infant (two). The American University of Pediatrics states that if the baby is showing signs of allergy to breastmilk, it could exist an allergy to a substance that the female parent has eaten (3). An babe could exhibit allergy-similar symptoms afterward consuming breastmilk.

Only that could be an allergy to the animal-milk proteins, which the female parent could have consumed earlier and passed to the baby through breastmilk. This happens but when the mother passes on allergy from the milk she has consumed.

Can Milk Allergy Result In Formula Allergy?

Yep. Formulas contain proteins derived from cow milk. It ways, an infant with milk allergy will also have an allergy to formula milk.

Is Milk Allergy Same As Lactose Intolerance?

No. The ii are dissimilar.

Milk allergy Lactose intolerance
The immune system's reaction to milk poly peptide The small intestine does not make the lactase enzyme that digests lactose saccharide in milk
Involves the immune system Involves the digestive system
Cannot consume milk at all Can consume lactose-free milk
Babies can consume and digest breastmilk Babies may be unable to consume and digest breastmilk

What Causes Milk Allergy In Babies?

The causes of milk allergy are non known.

The physiology of the condition is that when food passes into the small intestine, the immune organisation mistakes it to exist a foreign body and attacks it, causing an allergic reaction.

Genetics and ecology factors seem to exist the key crusade of nutrient allergies (4), while other factors increase an infant'southward risk of developing milk allergy.

What Are The Take a chance Factors For Developing Milk Allergy?

A babe tin can exist at a greater risk of developing a milk allergy in the post-obit scenarios:

  1. A family history of allergies: A baby has 75% chances of developing food allergies if both the parents accept a food allergy. The take a chance comes down to 40% when only ane parent has an allergy. A family member with a food allergy can also brand the infant susceptible to milk allergy (5).
  1. Repeated early exposure: A infant who is excessively given cow's milk at an early age can develop milk allergy.
  1. Being firstborn: Scientists observe that firstborns are more than prone to food allergies (vi) than the subsequent babies. Information technology is believed that firstborns do not have exposure to germs like the younger siblings do, which makes their immune arrangement delicate and susceptible to allergies.
  1. Asthma and eczema: Children suffering from asthma and eczema have a higher risk of food allergies such as milk allergy (7). However, information technology is not known what links the ii health conditions to milk allergies. Since asthma and eczema are a effect of a faulty allowed arrangement, they could brand the infant decumbent to food allergies as well.
  1. Presence of other food allergies: If the baby has other food allergies, they may be allergic to milk likewise, and so exist extra careful before giving them cow's milk.

If your baby has any of these risk factors, and then be warning and check for any symptoms of allergy.

What Are The Symptoms Of Milk Allergy In Babies?

The symptoms appear a few minutes to several hours later the consumption of milk or milk products. A baby with milk allergy volition brandish the following signs (8):

  1. Skin hives/ rashes: These are tiny, reddish or dark pink rashes that appear all over the body. They expect like bumps, oftentimes announced in clusters and tend to exist itchy.
  1. Swelling of the face: Parts of the face like the eyelids, cheeks, oral fissure, tongue, and lips get swollen.
  1. Shortness of breath and cough: Muscles of the neck peachy, making information technology difficult to swallow, and resulting in fits of coughing and shortness of breath.
  1. Stuffiness and runny nose: The baby may show common cold-like symptoms such equally a runny nose and wheezing while animate.
  1. Abdominal discomfort: Tum cramps and astringent pain across the entire intestinal region.
  1. Nausea and vomiting: Constant feeling of nausea, sometimes followed past vomiting.
  1. Diarrhea: The baby may take diarrhea, and sometimes the poop may even contain blood.
  1. Colic and fussiness: Abiding crying accompanied by severe, uncontrollable fussiness.

The above symptoms occur at a higher intensity in the cases of astringent allergic reaction to milk. Such a state of affairs is called anaphylaxis or anaphylactic stupor. Have your baby to a doctor every bit soon as you spot any symptoms of milk allergy.

How Is Milk Allergy In Infants Diagnosed?

Milk allergy is diagnosed using the following ii methods:

  1. Suspected nutrient elimination: Afterward learning about the symptoms, the dr. will enquire you to eliminate milk from the infant'due south diet. If the existing symptoms improve and the baby does not display the symptoms again, then it can be concluded that the baby has a milk allergy.
  1. Skin prick test: It is too called a percutaneous test. Hither a modest quantity of diluted allergen, milk protein in this example, is injected into the upper layers of the peel. If the infant is allergic to the substance, so they will brandish an itchy crash-land that would develop at the site of injection, thus indicating an allergy. The test is safe, but ordinarily never performed on infants beneath the age of six months (ix). Since the babies start having cow milk after the historic period of 12 months, this test tin be performed on a baby older than a year.
  1. Blood test: A blood examination will bank check for the presence of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies, which are present in the case of food allergy. Blood test provides authentic diagnosis.

Treatment of milk allergy is often the biggest concern for the parents.

How Is Milk Allergy In Babies Treated?

Milk allergies can only exist managed but not treated (x). Here is how it can be managed (11):

  1. Antihistamines: These medicines curtail milk allergy symptoms such every bit swelling, hives, runny nose, and abdominal pain. It does not cure milk allergy but just helps go along the symptoms under control.
  1. Epinephrine: Too called adrenaline, epinephrine is a hormone that controls an anaphylactic shock. It is administered through an car-injector when a baby sustains anaphylaxis.
  1. Avoidance of milk by mother: In the case of breastfed infants, a mother can consider avoiding milk equally long as her babe is reliant on breastmilk.

There is no uncertainty that the baby has to avert milk entirely. But doesn't that deprive the babe of nutrients?

What To Feed A Baby With Milk Allergy?

The following foods are excellent, nutritionally equivalent, substitutes for cow milk:

  1. Soy-milk or almond milk formula: Soy-milk formula is manufactured from soy protein that is derived from soybean. Similarly, almond milk is made from the almonds. Information technology is naturally complimentary from milk proteins and thus an ideal culling for babies with milk allergy. Soy formula is recommended for infants with a clinically-proven milk allergy (12).
  1. Hydrolyzed formula: In this hypoallergenic formula, the milk protein is cleaved downwardly into smaller amino acid bondage that do not elicit an immune system response (13). The formula can be either partially-hydrolyzed or extensively-hydrolyzed. Consult your infant'due south pediatrician earlier choosing a hypoallergenic formula.
  1. Calcium-rich vegetables: Milk is a good source of calcium for growing babies. Still, you tin can become adequate quantities of calcium from vegetables also. If your baby is a solid food eater, and then you tin introduce calcium-rich vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, kale, and even carrots in their diet (14). All greenish leafy vegetables and beans contain pregnant quantities of calcium (15). Well-nigh vegetables tin be safely introduced to babies at the age of half-dozen months.
  1. Meat and eggs: Meat contains several micronutrients while eggs are an splendid source of vitamins. Meat, except fish, is rubber to introduce at the age of six months. Eggs and fish tin can be introduced once the infant is a year old (16).
  1. Breastmilk: Breastmilk also makes an excellent substitute to cow'due south milk for equally long as you can feed your babe. The World Wellness System states that yous can feed your baby even across the historic period of two years (17).

Your baby won't miss the diet provided by milk when you substitute it with every bit nutritious solid foods. Just did y'all know that milk protein could be hiding in foods where you least expect it?

Can Milk Allergy Also Crusade Dairy Allergy?

Yes. Milk allergy is not just allergy to liquid milk, but as well to other milk or dairy products. Milk proteins are found in some non-dairy, packaged products. The following is the list of products to avoid when the infant has a milk allergy (xviii):

  • All dairy products including cheese, cottage cheese, butter, yogurt, water ice cream, and milk desserts similar custard
  • Foods containing casein, whey, and lactose
  • Creams and sour creams
  • Chocolates and candies
  • Baked products, especially milk bread
  • Canned fish; it often contains added milk proteins for better gustation

Always check the labeling of the nutrient you purchase to prevent accidental exposure to milk proteins.

Do Babies Outgrow Milk Allergy?

Yes. Experts country that infants tin outgrow milk allergy by the time they are three to 4 years old. Even so, some keep to be allergic to milk until they are in their teenage.

About 80% children outgrow milk allergy by the time they are xvi years old (nineteen). The chances of that, nevertheless, depend on the severity of the allergy.

How To Prevent Milk Allergy In Infants?

There is no single and specific method to prevent the onset of milk allergy (20). However, you lot can have precautions to minimize the risk of a baby developing a milk allergy:

  • Introduce milk only after 12 months. While this does not guarantee the prevention of milk allergy, it reduces the chances of it.
  • Introduce milk gradually. Practise non start with a bottle total of it. Instead, start with small quantities and then that the torso gets adequate fourth dimension to become used to the new food. Also, if the baby turns out to be allergic, a small quantity of milk may elicit a weaker allergic reaction.

This tip is too applicative for infants on a formula containing milk proteins. For more on milk allergies in babies, read our FAQ section side by side.

Ofttimes Asked Questions About Milk Allergy In Babies

1. Is food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome aforementioned every bit milk allergy?

No. Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) and milk allergy are different although milk can trigger FPIES. The following are the differences (21) (22):

FPIES Milk Allergy
Non-IgE mediated, i.e., no antibodies in the blood IgE-mediated, i.e., antibodies are present in the blood
Triggered by milk, soy, rice, among many foods Only triggered by milk
Vomiting and diarrhea are the main symptoms Symptoms are seen on the pare and abdominal region
Commonly resolves by four years May persist till teenage

FPIES can be difficult to detect during claret tests since it does not cause the germination of antibodies like those seen in milk allergy. Ascertainment of symptoms and their pattern tin help a pediatrician diagnose FPIES.

2. How to differentiate between reflux and milk allergy?

A baby with reflux will non display other allergy symptoms such as pare hives and blood-laden diarrhea. As well, reflux can happen later consuming any food while milk allergy symptoms merely emerge later on the consumption of milk or milk products.

3. Is rice milk platonic for babies with a milk allergy?

Yes. You can consider giving fortified rice milk specifically made for babies if your child has a milk allergy. However, rice milk contains also many calories and very little protein. It could as well be contaminated with arsenic. For this reason, the United states Food and Drug Administration recommends avoiding rice products for infants and toddlers (23). So it is all-time to stick to hydrolyzed formula or soy formula for your babe with milk allergy.

four. Can I give probiotics to a baby with a milk allergy?

No. It is best to avoid giving whatsoever probiotic to your infant with a milk allergy. In that location is limited enquiry on the benefits of probiotics for infants with milk allergy. If you lot notwithstanding want to consider them, then consult the pediatrician first.
Milk allergy in infants can cause a predicament for parents. However, choosing the correct alternatives such every bit soy formula, nutrient-rich vegetables and meat can ensure that your babe gets the required nutrition through a balanced diet. Your baby may outgrow milk allergy past mid-teenage. Only if they continue to have a milk allergy, then keep using alternatives to proceed the child safe and healthy.

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Rohit Garoo is a zoologist-botanist turned writer with over 8 years of feel in content writing, content marketing, and copywriting. He has also done an MBA in marketing and human resources and worked in the domains of market research and e-commerce. Rohit writes topics related to health, wellness and development of babies. His articles featured on several notable websites, including... more