Milk allergy is one of the most common food allergies in small children, but adults can also develop milk allergy. Some children are responding to breastfeeding if the mother has eaten milk products. Milk allergy can manifest itself in different ways and it can be difficult to link symptoms of stubborn eczema or petulant mood to the dairy products that you eat.
Milk allergy is getting body’s immune system reacts against the proteins in milk. The reaction may occur immediately after you have ingested milk protein, but it can also take several days depending on the symptoms you have. Most people with milk allergies outgrow their symptoms and can start eating dairy products in school. But for some, the allergy will continue and you will then continue to avoid dairy products.
Milk allergy symptoms
The allergic symptoms may appear throughout the body. One or more symptoms can be simultaneously and with varying intensity. This means that the allergic reaction can vary widely from person to person. For very severe milk allergy can react so strongly to have an allergic shock and need immediate medical attention.
The symptoms of milk allergy can be divided into four major groups:
Skin: eczema, skin redness, itching, hives and swelling.
Gastrointestinal: diarrhea, constipation, colic, vomiting, stomach pain, blood in stools and difficult to absorb nutrients.
Respiratory disorders: asthma, cough and runny nose. There are varying opinions about milk allergies can cause inflammation of the middle ear.
General symptoms: general irritability, crying, headaches, apathy, anxiety, restlessness, lethargy and hyperactivity.
Diagnosis
You can make a diagnosis in several ways. The most common is that together with doctors exclude all dairy products from your diet and then test a small amount. It should then be a clear difference in how you feel when you remove and then add milk products. You can also do allergy testing, through skin tests or blood tests. It should give a reaction when the skin or blood are exposed to milk protein.
If it turns out you are allergic to milk, you should avoid dairy products completely for good health. Once you have been without milk for a while you will hopefully feel like you are in better balance.
Be careful with soy foods
Soy is sometimes used as a substitute for milk allergy but milk allergies can develop allergy to soy also. Therefore it is best to also avoid the soy products – talking with your doctor about what is best for you or your child.
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