Cow milk allergy is very common among infants, and about 2 to 3 percent of infants experience this allergy in the first year of their life. It is important to understand the difference between lactose intolerance and milk allergies as both of these conditions have different causes. Infants who have a cow milk allergy may seem fussy, but that is not because they are full, but because they are allergic to the proteins in cow's milk.
Almost all baby formulas contain cow milk and may trigger milk allergies. If your infant has milk allergy, you should talk to your doctor and look for alternatives to dairy products and milk-based formula. Soy milk is usually a great substitute to cow's milk for children who have cow milk allergy.
You will be able to see cow milk allergy symptoms in the first few months of the baby's life. Often this occurs within a few weeks of the baby's life. Infants, who are exclusively breastfed, are much less likely to have cow milk allergies than those who are fed exclusively on cow milk. The infant may experience loose stools, gagging, vomiting, and skin rashes. The child may also experience colic and show irritability.
Sometimes, the symptoms have a very rapid onset, and the infant experiences increasing irritability, vomiting, hives, swelling, wheezing, bloody diarrhea, and itchy bumps on the skin. In rare cases cow milk allergies in babies can cause fatal symptoms such as anaphylaxis.
While milk allergies are usually observed in infants and young children, adults may also develop them. Cow milk allergy in adults usually has milder symptoms and is therefore often confused with lactose intolerance, which is an entirely different condition. Though young children usually outgrow their allergy, some may continue experiencing it in adulthood.
Infants with cow milk allergies can continue to consume breast milk without experiencing any symptoms. However, mothers may also need to stop consuming dairy products as the allergy causing milk proteins can cross into the breast milk. Consult your dietician to find alternatives to cow milk as this is one of the major sources of calcium and vitamin D. Read package labels carefully to ensure that the foods you are buying do not have any milk or dairy products in them. Your doctor can recommend a hypoallergenic formula specially prepared for babies who are allergic to cow milk.
Though there is no effective cow milk allergy treatment, such allergies can be avoided by considering soy-based alternatives to products containing cow milk.
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