Babies are very susceptible to sickness, it is easy to notice the symptoms of milk allergy in infants, because most of it manifests on the skin. It is of vital importance that you, as a parent, are aware of the possible sickness that might affect your child. Take note on some of the facts about milk allergies in babies.

Cow’s milk allergy is a condition where the body takes preventive measures upon the appearance of protein found in cow’s milk. This is noticed after the first month of birth. Almost 2.5 percent of children have milk allergies. The allergy shows up on the first year of life. The good news is most kids outgrow milk allergy over time, by the time they reach sixteen years old.

 

Facts about Milk Allergies

Most babies can get milk allergy because of the baby formulas in the market. This is because most of them are made of cow’s milk, almost all the basis of commercial baby formulas are from cow’s milk. So, generally speaking most of the babies nowadays have milk allergy. Babies that have milk allergy are usually fussy and irritable; this is one of the most common symptoms. Milk allergy can also be inherited. If you and your partner have histories or background of having milk allergy, then your child has a high risk of acquiring this type of allergy.

 

Symptoms of Milk Allergy

• Colic – Infant colic is a condition where a baby cries for more than three hours, more than three days a week for more than three weeks. This usually begins in the third week of life and ends by three months old.

• Vomiting – Most babies vomit small amount every time, this is normal. In milk allergy, babies vomit because they cannot properly digest the proteins that are present in the cow’s milk. Vomiting follows after feeding the baby milk.

• Diarrhea – In milk allergy usually diarrhea comes in large stools. This is one of the most common, if not given symptom, in babies who has milk allergy.

• Chronic Cough – Coughs are common in babies. But coughs induced by allergies might be dangerous; it might even lead to asthma. Also be on the lookout when your baby is coughing like there’s something that’s expelling off their chest.

• Skin Rash – Milk allergies can cause skin rashes to your babies. In worst cases, it might lead to eczema.

• Stagnant / Low Weight – Most babies double their weight by six months and triple it by the twelfth, but when babies getting the sufficient nutrition they need because of vomiting and diarrhea, weight gain may actually stop.

• Flatulence – All babies have gas; severe gassiness might not be normal anymore and might be caused by milk allergy.

• Failure to Thrive – This is caused by lack of proper nutrition characterized by dehydration, loss of appetite and lack of energy.

 

How to Prevent Milk Allergies

• Avoid eating products that has milk (buttermilk, low-fat milk and skim milk), other dairy products such as butter, cheese, ice cream and gelato, yogurt.

• Be vigilant. Check the ingredients of processed foods. Look for some items to avoid like; artificial flavors, casein, chocolate, caramel, nougat, hydrosolate, ingredients beginning in “lact”, protein powder, whey.

• Use breastfeeding. This should be performed during the first six months after the baby is born, since it contains, more nutritional value than animal milk (cow’s milk) babies that are breastfed are least likely to be allergic to milk.

• Monitor the food for breastfeeding mothers.

 

To identify whether your child has milk allergy, you child must undergo one of the following tests; the blood test and/ or skin test. During the blood test, a sample of blood is taken from your child and it is checked for antibodies that might be sensitive for milk protein. Immunoglobulin is protein that is produced by the body to fight off bacteria and other foreign substances that might pose any harm. The body mistakes the protein in milk as something that is harmful. The skin test is administered through by scratching and exposing the skin to milk protein. If your child is allergic to milk, the area exposed to allergens will react with a hive, raised, or red bump.

 

Foods that has Milk in them

Besides the obvious products that contain milk you should also have knowledge about the food that possesses milk as an ingredient, maybe not the major ingredient, but still, small portions of milk are still milk. Foods like brown sugar flavouring, high protein flour, margarine, natural flavouring, custard, and pudding.

 

How to Treat Milk Allergy in Babies

Prevention is better than cure, so one sure way of reducing the risk of milk allergy in your baby is by breastfeeding. Treat itchy rashes on the baby with topical hydrocortisone cream, other mild symptoms of allergies can be treated by antihistamine that is prescribed by your doctor. Eliminate all sources of milk products from the house and from the mother’s diet. If mother still continue to consume milk-based products, babies are still prone to milk allergy. It is deeply rooted that mothers should continue breastfeeding for the first four to six months. Switch to hydrolysed or hypoallergenic formulas, or you can continue breastfeeding up to the first year.

 

When Should You Call the Doctor?

• Call your doctor if your child is showing signs of allergy in milk

• You should call your doctor if your child is between zero to six months and is crying uncontrollably

• Make a visit to the doctor if your child has a rash

• Call the doctor if you have some queries about your child’s condition

 

Babies are very sensitive to even the slightest of dirt and allergies, symptoms of food allergies in babies are not hard to identify as it is very noticeable. A big ratio of babies are affected by this condition, most of them outgrowing this by three years old, some by sixteen years old and some are in it for a lifetime. Symptoms, like diarrhea, vomiting, and chronic cough are some of the dangerous symptoms milk allergies can give. To fully know if your child has milk allergy go to your doctor and conduct the blood test or the skin test. Although these aren’t completely fool proof, you still get to know if your child is a happy baby. Be mindful of your diet as a parent as it can greatly affect the health of your baby especially if you are breastfeeding. Learn about what you can do at home to treat the rashes. There can only so much that you can do, so visit your doctor when the time calls it.