There is a lot of confusion between the terms milk allergy and milk, or lactose, intolerance.
Milk allergy is when your baby's immune system reacts to proteins in milk. It is the most common childhood
allergy, affecting between two per cent and seven per cent of babies. Babies who have
eczema are more likely to suffer from it.
Lactose intolerance is when your baby has difficulty digesting the lactose, or the sugar, found in milk. BabyCenter expert
Dr Winston Yong says this is quite common in Asians.
Your baby can take in milk protein through your
breastmilk
if you have drunk or eaten dairy produce, or she might react to cow's
milk-based formula milk. Babies can be allergic to casein in milk (the
curd formed when milk turns sour), the whey (the watery part left when
the curd is removed), or both.
Most children will have grown out of their milk allergy by the time they are
three years old.
However, about half of babies and children who react to milk will
develop an allergy to something else when they are older. Unfortunately,
many, between half and 80 per cent, will develop
asthma.
If your baby is allergic she could have an immediate reaction after drinking milk or eating something with a dairy ingredient.
- Her face will flush and show a rash.
- She's likely to have watery eyes and a stuffy nose.
- It's also possible she'll feel sick or have diarrhoea.
- Rarely, babies have a more serious reaction called anaphylaxis.
Your doctor can easily find out whether your baby has an allergy by doing a
skin prick test or a blood test.
Most allergic reactions to milk are immediate, but delayed allergic reactions are common, too. Your baby might have:
Remember that these symptoms are common in early childhood and an allergy is only one possible explanation.
It
will be more tricky to find out whether your baby is having delayed
allergic reactions, because they involve parts of the immune system that
take longer to respond. Your doctor and a dietitian will work with you
on a diet that cuts out milk from your baby's meals. This can be a long
process, during which the dietitian will review your baby's symptoms and
gradually reintroduce milk to her diet to see if the symptoms recur.
Always see your doctor or a dietitian before cutting food groups out of
your baby's diet.
If your baby is allergic to milk and
is formula-fed, talk to your doctor before changing formula. It may not
be the answer simply to switch to a soya-based product, because babies
with milk allergies can react to this, too.
In fact,
experts do not recommend soya formula for babies under six months. Your
baby will probably need a formula that is hypoallergenic, meaning she
won't react to it. This will be in the form of an amino acid-based or
highly hydrolysed formula milk. Dr Yong says hypoallergenic formula is
available at some pharmacies in Malaysia. If you have difficulty finding
these special formulas, you can ask your paediatrician to give you the
contact of the milk company’s representative.
If your
baby has a lactose intolerance, this is a quite a different condition to
an allergy. It means she has difficulty digesting lactose, the sugar
found in milk. It is likely that she will lack the enzyme, lactase,
needed to break down lactose.
Your baby might develop
lactose intolerance for a short period after she has had a tummy bug. If
your baby is formula-fed, your doctor may advise you to give her
lactose-free formula milk for a short time. Read more about
feeding a lactose intolerant child.
Source : Baby Center
(http://www.babycenter.com.my/baby/startingsolids/safety/cowsmilkintoleranceexpert/)
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