Milk allergy affects 2.5% of young children and can cause life-threatening symptoms. It is important to distinguish between milk allergy and lactose intolerance. Skin and blood tests can determine milk allergy, but keeping a food diary can also help. Avoiding all dairy products is necessary for those with milk allergy. Most children outgrow milk allergy.
A milk allergy is an immune system reaction to contact with milk proteins that causes sudden or chronic symptoms that could, in some cases, be life-threatening. It is estimated to affect around 2.5% of young children and appears to be on the rise. Before determining whether you or your child is allergic to milk, however, you need to understand the important distinction between a milk allergy and a milk intolerance, because the symptoms and treatment of these conditions are very different.
When you’re allergic to milk, the immune system, the part of the body designed to fight infection, mistakenly attacks one or more proteins in milk, the most common of which are casein and whey. The symptoms that you experience are similar to those seen with other types of allergies and include itching, hives, wheezing, and indigestion. In severe cases, a condition known as anaphylaxis can occur, in which case breathing and circulatory problems can suddenly occur and result in death. Immediate medical attention is needed when severe symptoms appear, and administration of epinephrine, also known as epinephrine, via injection is necessary to reverse any life-threatening risk.
On the other hand, milk intolerance, also known as lactose intolerance, has nothing to do with the immune system. It is caused by a lack or low amount of an enzyme called lactase, which is needed to digest milk. Stomach problems such as bloating, cramping and diarrhea are the most common symptoms, and while they can be uncomfortable and annoying, they are rarely life-threatening.
The only way to determine if you are allergic to milk is to see an allergist. Skin and blood tests will usually be conducted, as well as a thorough evaluation of your medical history. Through the test, the allergist will look for the presence of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies, which are usually found in the blood and skin of milk-allergic patients. The test, however, isn’t foolproof, so if you’re able to keep a food diary with detailed notes on when you’ve consumed milk and what your reactions have been, your doctor will be able to make an educated diagnosis despite any variations in the tests. .
If you are allergic to milk, you must avoid all dairy products and be especially careful not to come into contact with milk proteins in any form. Often hidden in common foods and manufactured products, milk protein can appear as an ingredient in everything from crackers to toothpaste, under the guise of artificial flavors of butter, caseinates, lactoglobulin and rennet, among other things. Also, it’s important to note that products labeled “lactose-free,” while safe for people with lactose intolerance, aren’t necessarily safe for those with a milk allergy.
Most children with a milk allergy eventually outgrow their condition. As they get older and this happens, they become able to consume dairy products. Until then, strictly avoiding all dairy products is the only safe course of action to take.
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