Milk Allergies - Signs and Causes
Posted: Thursday, August 12, 2010
by Dr. Carla Goddard
As far back at written history goes there has been an awareness of reactions to cow's milk. Milk allergy is different than milk intolerance. An allergy to milk is defined as a hypersensitivity to cow's milk protein by a mechanism involving the immune system; whereas, an intolerance is an adverse reaction that does not involve the immune mechanism. What does this really mean? Cows milk contains casein and whey proteins that are the culprits causing the allergic reaction.
About one percent of the children's visits to the doctors office will be from an allergic reaction. Atopic Dermatitis affects one out of ten infants and is caused mostly to allergies and is a sign of an allergy to milk. This is often known as eczema. It is not only infants that can be affected. Although, many infants outgrow the allergy, it is possible for an adult to develop atopic dermatitis from a milk allergy. In an infant this will appear as a rash with small white 'pimples' that are red in center on the infant's cheeks, neck and scalp. It is not a diaper rash. If any of the infected center pimples will ooze fluid and spread over a wider area. In older children it will appear in places such as the inner forearms and the inner elbows. Some may get the 'pimples' on their eyelids and soles of the feet. The difficulty is that this is atopic dermatitis is a symptom of a number of different allergens from bacterial, fungal, or viral infections.
A milk allergy may cause hives. When the hives do not go away it is called chronic urticaria which is commonly caused by an allergy. Unlike the 'pimples' of atopic dermatitis , hives do not have any fluid contained within the centers.
Allergic asthma is another symptom that can occur as a result of allergic reaction to milk. Allergic asthma is characterized with airway obstruction and inflammation which is reversible with medication. Unfortunately, the symptoms of allergic and non-allergic asthma are the same. It can be coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath or chest tightness.
The most serious symptom of milk allergies is anaphylaxis. This is when the blood vessels widen so much that a person's blood pressure plummets. To start with a person may become flushed, develop a rash, swelling of lips, sweating, paleness leading into abdominal cramps, rapid pulse, fainting, confusion, or convulsions. Anaphylaxis is a life threatening allergic reaction that if not treated quickly (minutes) it can lead to death. In some the symptoms at first do not seem as urgent as they can include itching in the mouth or throat, hoarseness, or feeling the need to urinate.
If you suspect you or your child is having any signs of anaphylaxis dial 911.
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