Treatment methods for milk allergy

We are taught from childhood that dairy products are good for health. But for every tenth earthling, milk is a real poison. In most cases, lactose intolerance occurs - the absence in the body of the necessary mutation for the breakdown of milk carbohydrates. But sometimes there is a more serious problem - an allergy to milk.

This disease most often affects young children, which makes caring for them a real test for parents. Fortunately, over time, the child's body matures and the symptoms no longer bother him. But if you are one of those who are forced to keep a dairy-free diet throughout their lives, this article will be of great help to you.

Causes of the disease

Milk allergy is most often manifested by the use of cow's milk. And the point here is not only in its absolute prevalence in comparison with goat or sheep. It contains over 20 different allergen proteins. Including casein, which is responsible for most cases of allergic reactions in children.

However, allergenic proteins are far from the only cause of cow's milk allergy. Modern animal husbandry is difficult to imagine without the use of various animal feed and steroids. Some of them can get into food and end up on our table.

Fresh milk deserves a separate word. According to many, it contains many valuable compounds and is strictly recommended to everyone, young and old. The truth here is not more than half. This product is really very useful, but also a lot of harm from it. In addition to the possibility of infection with salmonella or E. coli, unboiled cow's milk causes a severe allergic reaction even in a healthy person.

Main risk groups

Heredity plays a large role in the predisposition to this disease. If milk causes allergies in one or both parents, the likelihood of similar problems in their children ranges from 29% to 71%.

In addition, doctors identify the following risk groups:

• Children under the age of 3 years. Particular attention is paid to infants, whose body does not yet know how to effectively break down milk proteins. Therefore, it is recommended to keep breastfeeding as long as possible;
• Allergy. In this case, an allergy to milk develops during an exacerbation of the underlying allergic disease, when the patient's body is weakened and cannot adequately respond to pathogens;
• People with impaired immune systems. The reason is the same as above. Weakened or affected immunity perceives milk allergens as an enemy, activating defense mechanisms.

Symptoms of the disease

Symptoms of an allergic reaction are very diverse and quite individual. Often they are limited to skin manifestations or disorders in the gastrointestinal tract. But at times, a milk allergy can hit the respiratory system as well.

In adults, the following symptoms are noted:

• Itchy rash or redness on the skin. The appearance of edema;
• Flatulence, cramps and pain in the abdomen. Constipation or vice versa diarrhea;
• Swelling of the nasal mucosa, sneezing, runny nose, shortness of breath. In severe cases - pulmonary edema and anaphylactic shock .

Children may show a number of additional reactions. Including:

1. Scabs of white color on the head (the so-called milk scab);
2. Diarrhea mixed with mucus or blood;
3. intestinal bleeding;
4. Weight loss even with good nutrition.

Differences from lactose intolerance

In some cases, milk allergy is confused with lactose intolerance. In general, they do have a number of similar symptoms, but fortunately there are also enough differences between them.

A distinctive feature of lactose intolerance is the dependence of body reactions on the amount of product consumed. You can safely consume half a glass of milk or a cup of yogurt without any serious consequences. But for an allergic reaction, a single sip may be enough.

Diagnostics

At the first symptoms of the disease, you should seek medical help. The main reason is not so much the dangers of self-treatment, but the fact that some serious diseases have similar symptoms. First of all - gastritis and stagnation of bile. Therefore, when visiting the clinic, do not be too lazy to make an appointment with a gastroenterologist. This can save you a lot of problems.

The standard means of diagnosing milk allergy is an immunoglobulin test , as well as tests for allergens. In addition, it is advisable to recall all the features of the diet of the past days. First of all, this applies to young children. Therefore, parents are advised to carefully record all the details of the child's nutrition in a special food diary. The reaction of the baby to the products is also entered there.

Treatment methods

The simplest and most effective method of getting rid of allergy symptoms is to eliminate the sources. For this, a dairy-free diet is used. Although there are some subtleties here. Some allergen proteins found in pure milk are neutralized by oxidation or fermentation. As a result, the patient can safely consume cheese or dairy products. But this point requires the approval of the attending physician based on the results of laboratory tests.

Allergic manifestations are also eliminated with the help of general antihistamines . Hormonal drugs based on corticosteroids are also very effective. But before using them, you should consult your doctor.

Practical Tips

If you or your loved ones are allergic to cow's milk, there is no point in despairing. Even children can live full and healthy lives on a dairy-free diet. Just follow a few simple guidelines:

• Keep breastfeeding your babies for as long as possible. At the same time, try to avoid the use of highly allergenic foods. Primarily soy, nuts and seafood;
• Avoid using infant formula. In most cases, they cause an acute allergic reaction. Don't rely on well-advertised soy-based blends either. They are also quite allergenic;
• Milk allergy in children resolves on its own by the age of 3. Until then, you should not feed him dairy products;
• Do not forget to compensate for the lack of nutrients from other sources;
• If you can't do without milk, replace cow's milk with goat's. Among all types of milk, it is the least allergenic.

And most importantly: watch what you eat. Often, allergic reactions occur due to a combination of allergens with poor ecology, unhealthy diet and lifestyle. After all, a weak body is much easier to beat.