Milk Allergy Explained
Cow’s milk is one of the most widespread allergy-causing foods in children, and it’s the foremost source of allergic reactions in quite young babies.
Milk allergy has an effect on around 2 percent to 3 percent of toddlers globally, and its symptoms and signs may be grave enough to cause sorrow not solely for an allergic kid, but also for the child’s family. But the fine news is that nearly all children outgrow a milk allergy by the age 2 or 3.
Allergic reactions more often than not happen a few minutes to a few hours after you eat/drink milk ” but occasionally it can be days before symptoms and sign show. Signs and symptoms vary from mild to critical and may include wheezing, vomiting, hives and digestive problems. Very rarely, milk allergy can cause anaphylaxis – a severe, life-threatening reaction.
Milk Allergy Symptoms
Three types of milk coupled allergy symptoms have been recognized:
1. Symptoms commence quickly subsequent to consuming cow’s milk. Responses largely affect the skin, triggering hives and/or eczema.
2. Symptoms start some hours after consuming cow’s milk. Symptoms of this type are mainly diarrhea and vomiting.
3. Symptoms start more than twenty hours after eating/drinking. The central 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 comprehensive list 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 listed symptoms are not limited to people with milk allergy. Once one become familiar with food allergy symptoms, you will see that numerous foods share a variety of general symptoms, such as: bloating, rash, and runny nose.
What is the Difference of Milk allergy and Milk Intolerance?
It is essential to differentiate a true milk allergy from milk protein intolerance or lactose intolerance. Unlike a milk allergy, intolerance doesn’t implicate the immune system. Milk intolerance causes different symptoms and need different care than does a true milk allergy. Regular 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 challenging, as milk is a widespread 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 uneasiness. If you or your child has a life-threatening 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 dangerous reaction, you or your child may need to carry injectable epinephrine (such as an EpiPen) at all times.
Filed under: Allergies