Babies get sick easily, one of the most common sicknesses they can acquire is milk allergy, look after potential signs of milk allergy in toddler. It’s easy to know if your kid is suffering from milk allergy as the symptoms are very obvious. Some of the signs of milk allergy aren’t as dangerous as the others but there are signs that might even lead to death of proper medical attentions aren’t sought.

 

Signs of Milk Allergy in Infants

Symptoms of milk actually come in two, the immediate symptom and progressive symptoms. Some of the immediate symptom includes hives, a skin condition characterized by red, circular, spongy lesion. Wheezing can be described as a difficulty in breathing as if there is some obstruction in the throat. Vomiting, although usual for babies might be mistaken for just plain vomiting. Babies spit up food bits right after eating and vomits at the same time, but babies with allergy who vomits experiences disturbance in their gastrointestinal track thus they vomit. Progressive symptoms differ from every child but nonetheless it includes, watery stools, this is the most common symptom; babies get loose stools sometime with blood on them because they can’t properly digest. Diarrhoea is another progressive symptom, it is the increase in the frequency of bowel movement, and usually watery faeces are present. Skin rashes are mostly the determinants whether a child is sick or not, usually the rashes appear around the mouth and cheeks, where milk is always in contact with. Extreme fussiness is also a sign that your child is allergic to milk. When he starts to cry for no apparent reason, and will go on for hours of crying.

 

There are some misconceptions about milk allergy and lactose intolerance. Allergies attack the immune system while lactose intolerance attacks the digestive system, so whenever your kid starts to complain about feeling full every time and whirling in his stomach, that’s not milk allergy, that’s lactose intolerance.

 

Milk-Containing Foods

You should avoid these foods if you have milk allergy; butter, margarine, ice cream, custard, yogurt, all kinds of milk may it be evaporated, condensed, low-fat, non-fat or skim milk, milk solids. Those are the obvious foods that you should avoid, but what about those foods that aren’t really made of milk? How can you escape from them? Here are some of the foods that have hidden milk on it; boxed cereal and cereal bars, prepared breadcrumbs, processed sandwich, quick breads, yeast breads, crackers, deli meat, granola, protein bars and energy bars. If you are fans of the aforementioned foods here are some of the alternatives that you can go with; Fish sticks, Dill salmon cakes, for quick breads you can try beer bread, cocoa banana bread, corn bread, gingerbread, you can try eating saltine crackers, red onion and thyme crackers and homemade graham crackers instead of the commercial dairy crackers.

 

Testing and Diagnosis of Milk Allergy

There are two tests that can be done if you think your kid has milk allergy. The blood testing and skin testing, blood testing measures the amount of antibodies (immunoglobulin) in the body, another test is the skin test, the doctor pricks the skin with a needles and exposes the area to lactose, if the skin reacts to it, a raised bump called as a wheal will appear. These tests aren’t sure to give you concrete results, but it can get you closer to finding the condition of your kid.

 

Treatment of Milk Allergy

Medication is ineffective in curing this condition because this is incurable. Most kids with milk just outgrow this by the time they reach three years old, other kids get rid of milk allergy once they hit sixteen years old, while other are in it for life. The best you can do is to just follow the popular saying “prevention is better than cure” try your best top avoid the foods that might trigger allergic reactions, educate yourself in the condition of your child, be vigilant with everything you eat and whatever people around you are eating, you’re not the only one interacting with your baby. Consider breastfeeding your baby up until he is six months old. Do not introduce solids up until the fourth to sixth month. Always have a first aid plan in times of need. For skin rashes, it is best to apply topical cream, or use antihistamine. Get in touch with your doctor, ask about the signs, ask when is the right time to bring your child to the doctor, ask about the potential sicknesses that your kid may acquire because of milk allergy.

 

Milk is a big component in the daily recommended allowance on diet. Milk has calcium, for proper bone development, vitamin A for good eyesight, gene transcription and boosting immune function and proteins for the muscles. If you’re child has milk allergy it is more likely that he will miss out on these nutrients. Babies with milk are prone to malnutrition, because of too much vomiting, too much bowel movements and less nutrients. Provide food alternatives that fill out the missing nutrients, green vegetables are great sources of calcium like spinach, turnip greens, okra, broccoli, baked beans, white beans, almonds, sesame seeds, Brussels sprouts, collard greens, tofu etc. For the missing vitamin A, you can give foods like carrots, sweet potatoes, dark leafy greens, butternut squash, lettuce and cantaloupe. To make up for the missing proteins chickpeas, pumpkin and squash kernels, spirulina, sardine, salmon etc.

 

It is important to be familiar with the signs of milk allergy in toddler, because your babies can’t speak yet and tell you what’s wrong. Get to know the condition of your kid, segregate foods if necessary, know where your baby got his allergy consult professional advice, shop for food alternatives. Milk allergy is very common in toddlers, they can get rid of it over time, or if they have a background of milk allergy, they’re in it for life. There is not treatment for milk allergy; you just have to go through with first aid measures, ask your doctor, ask parents who have kids with milk allergies, change your diet and watch what people around you are consuming, they are a big part of your kid’s condition.