What is Milk Allergy?

By Maja Maartens

Cow's milk is one of the most widespread allergy-causing foods in children, and it's the foremost source of allergic result in especially young babies.

Milk allergy affects roughly 2 percent to 3 percent of babies globally, and its symptoms and signs may be critical enough to cause agony not merely for an allergic child, but also for the child's family. But the pleasant news is that the largest part of children grow out of a milk allergy by the age 2 or 3.

Allergic reactions typically show a couple of minutes to a few hours after you eat/drink milk " but sometimes it can be days before symptoms and sign occur. Signs and symptoms go from mild to harsh and can consist of wheezing, vomiting, hives and digestive problems. Rarely, milk allergy can cause anaphylaxis - a severe, life-threatening reaction.

Milk Allergy Symptoms

Three types of milk correlated allergy symptoms have been established:

1. Symptoms start swiftly following ingesting cow's milk. Reactions mostly affect the skin, triggering hives and/or eczema.

2. Symptoms begin several hours after eating/drinking cow's milk. Symptoms of this type are mainly diarrhea and vomiting.

3. Symptoms set in more than twenty hours after ingesting. The main symptom for this type is diarrhea.

Symptoms of milk allergy can affect the skin, causing rashes or hives; the digestive tract, causing bloating and diarrhea, and the respiratory system, causing runny nose and asthma.

Here is a more inclusive list of symptoms:

* vomiting

* hyperactive behavior

* diarrhea

* asthma

* hives

* runny nose

* rashes

* stuffy nose

* ear infections

* bloating

* watery eyes

* eczema

* allergic shiners (black around the eyes)

* recurrent bronchitis

* failure to thrive

The above mentioned symptoms are not limited to people suffering from milk allergy. Once you get to know food allergy symptoms, you will become aware of that quite a few foods share a variety of regular symptoms, such as: bloating, rash, and runny nose.

What is the Difference of Milk allergy and Milk Intolerance?

It is critical to tell between a true milk allergy from milk protein intolerance or lactose intolerance. Unlike a milk allergy, intolerance doesn't implicate the immune system. Milk intolerance triggers different symptoms and call for separate treatment than does a true milk allergy. General signs and symptoms of milk protein intolerance or lactose intolerance include digestive problems, such as bloating, gas or diarrhea, after consuming milk.

Milk Allergy Prevention and Cure

The single way to prevent an allergic reaction is to avoid milk and milk proteins altogether. This can be easier said than done, as milk is a common food ingredient. Despite your best efforts, you or your child may still come into contact with milk.

Medications, such as antihistamines, may reduce signs and symptoms of a milk allergy. These drugs can be taken after exposure to milk to control an allergic reaction and help relieve uneasiness. If you or your child has a life-threatening allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), you may need an emergency injection of epinephrine (adrenaline) and a trip to the emergency room.

If you're at risk of having a critical reaction, you or your child may need to carry injectable epinephrine (such as an EpiPen) at all times. - 17268

About the Author:

Maja Maartens is highly competent with milk allergy on a personal level and she has written many in dept articles on the subject. For an exhaustive and meticulous explaination on milk allergy symptoms and how to live without milk and gluten visit her website.