Facts and Myths about Milk Allergy in Children

Milk Allergy Myths and Facts

	Milk allergy in children can occur immediately after it is fed or there could be a delay of hours to days.
	Milk allergies that occur immediately after ingestion of milk are easily recognizable in a short period by swelling, hives, or other allergy symptoms in short time.
	Milk allergies that appear in the short-term can be found if skin tests for allergies are done.
	Milk allergies in children that happen after delays do not respond to skin testing for allergies.
	Many Occurrences of delayed milk allergy are in fact milk intolerance; allergy medications can not treat milk intolerances because for treating food intolerance different chemicals and processes are required.
	Most of the milk intolerances are not lactose intolerances; a few of them are.
	Diagnosing people with milk allergies as lactose intolerance is incorrect.
	Lactose is not a protein but sugar.
	Lactose intolerance can be treated with lactase which is a milk enzyme.
	Children with lactose intolerance can be given yogurt as a substitute; however children with protein-based milk allergies cannot have yogurt
	The child milk allergy is caused by milk proteins and this will not respond to lactase treatment.
	The allergens in milk causing milk allergy in children are proteins which are ingredients contained in the milk.
	Since the proteins in cow milk, goat milk and sheep milk are similar children allergic to cow's milk also are allergic to goat and sheep milk
	Most of the time milk allergy in children can be outgrown.
	As per researches carried out, many childhood or infant milk allergies which were supposed to have been outgrown have only changed and are present in different ways.
	Children who have outgrown milk allergy can still show hypersensitivities to milk proteins; this causes elusive allergy symptoms and gastrointestinal difficulties.
	Normally milk allergy in children is caused by casein and whey which are the two most commonly present allergenic milk proteins.
	Milk allergy in children can be caused by over 30 milk proteins.
	Many food products and even products that children and parents might not expect to find milk contain milk proteins and can cause milk allergy reactions in children with milk allergies.
	Since milk proteins do not break down when used in food products they cause a milk allergy reaction in children with milk allergies.
	Parents should familiarize themselves on the names of milk products that cause milk allergy reactions in allergic children; these are: whey, casein, milk solids or powders, skim milk powder, and albumin, among others.

The above information on milk allergy in children is useful in explaining to doctors in a better way and also for diagnosing milk allergies or intolerances properly.  Diagnosis of milk allergy in children should not only be made based on parental observation but also require doctor's examination for proper diagnosis; it also needs a controlled dietary analysis and blood/skin testing.  All these things can be done only by a qualified allergist/immunologist.

The diagnosis of milk allergy in children will help in the avoidance of allergen and also good management of the child’s diet. In case the child with milk allergy requires to limit its milk intake, it will be short of calcium and other nutrients found in milk and dairy products which are essential ingredients for bone formation and better health; There is necessity to find alternative sources of the missing nutrients if the children are deprived of essential vitamins and nutrients from milk and dairy products. For this reason, the primary care doctors refer the child to a nutritionist who can give proper diet recommendations for the child taking into account the child’s milk allergy reactions. A proper plan for treatment, management and diet for children with milk allergies one can ensure a happy, healthy and allergy free life for the children.