Milk Allergy in Babies – Symptoms, Treatment and Precautions

In babies, massive amounts of proteins generally cause allergic reactions. Casein and Whey are two responsible components. Casein is the curd and whey is the watery substance left after the curd is removed.

The baby’s immune system reacts to these proteins and other ingredients releasing body chemicals known as histamines. These histamines are responsible for triggering allergic reactions in babies.

How Common is Milk Allergy in Babies?

Milk allergy is one of the most common conditions in babyhood. As per stats, nearly 7% of babies under 1 year get affected by this allergy.

However, most babies outgrow this condition by the time they reach five years of age and the rest outgrow this condition by the age of 6. For others, this condition can be lifelong.

Types of Milk Allergies in Babies

Milk allergies in babies can be categorized into three broad types based on the source of their milk – breast milk allergy, formula milk allergy, and cow milk allergy.

Breast Milk Allergy

Is your baby showing typical symptoms of allergy such as skin or digestive issues after drinking your milk? You may need to speak with the pediatrician about whether there is a possibility of a breast milk allergy.

There may be two causes of breast milk allergy.

• The Mom’s Diet – Something that the mother has eaten may not have suited the baby. In other words, the baby may be allergic to something that the mother ate.
• Ingredients in The Mother’s Milk – Very rarely, the baby may have an allergy to the ingredients present in the mother’s milk. This is not exactly an allergy per se, but more of an intolerance or inability to digest certain ingredients present in the mother’s milk.

Formula Milk Allergy

Some babies may develop allergy symptoms such as cough, hives, itching, indigestion or diarrhea after drinking formula milk for the first time. Formula milk allergy is quite common in babies, partly due to being allergic due to the components present in the milk but also due to a still-developing digestive system that cannot tolerate the contents present in the milk(intolerance).

Most baby formula powders in the market are prepared from cow milk. The protein is broken down to make it easily digestible for babies while other components are added to make it nutritious and easily digestible.

Babies who are allergic to the protein components present in cow’s milk- casein and whey- often develop allergies to formula milk too.

If you find that your baby is allergic to formula, you must contact your pediatrician immediately. They may suggest a specially-formulated baby milk powder created for babies who are allergic to regular formula milk.

Cow Milk Allergy

This is the most common type of allergy in babies. It happens when the baby’s immune system fails to recognize the protein present in milk as safe and decides to wage a war against these proteins. As a result, your baby may develop allergic reactions such as swollen tongue, throat, eyes, lips or face, or hives. Stomachache, vomiting, and diarrhea may also occur.

Some babies may develop an inability to digest cow milk due to an intolerance. Milk allergy is different from intolerance, your pediatrician will be the best person to let you know what your baby possibly has in case there are symtpoms.

Causes of Milk Allergies in Infants

Milk seems to be the most natural food for babies. But still, it can cause allergies. So why does it happen?

Milk allergy happens when a baby’s body misidentifies the proteins present in milk as harmful invaders. The body fights strongly to protect itself by releasing Histamine, a chemical substance. This chemical component causes milk allergy in babies and stimulates symptoms like wheezing, coughing, and hives.

Signs and Symptoms of Milk Allergy in Babies

A baby can show some common symptoms right after consuming milk, especially cow milk. Though the severity of the reaction may vary, the basic signs are

• Throat tightness and swelling
• Coughing and hoarseness
• Runny, itchy, or puffy eyes
• Red itchy rashes on the skin
• Hives, swelling on the face, eyes and lips
• Constipation, colic and stomachache
• Diarrhea and/or vomiting
• Upset stomach
• Wheezing and trouble breathing
• Light-headedness and blood pressure drop
• Feeling feverish with a blocked or runny nose

In extremely rare cases babies can develop loss of consciousness or eczema that doesn’t heal with treatment. Babies can also develop anaphylaxis or a severe allergic reaction. In all three cases, you must rush to the emergency since the situation can turn life-threatening.

Diagnosing Milk Allergy in Babies

Diagnosing a milk allergy or any allergy-related to food can be quite a task as identification of the source of allergy can be a difficult task. Diagnosis of milk allergies needs to have efforts on the part of the pediatrician and the parent as well. Here is what you can do as a parent.

1. Keep track of the signs and symptoms your baby is facing. If the symptoms match the list mentioned above, your baby may very well have a milk allergy.

2. Maintain a food diary with whatever food and drink your baby has consumed every day along with any symptoms of allergies that have appeared.

3. Use the elimination diet method and then re-introduce it to try and identify which food is causing the problem. You can also use the 3-day rule to identify the culprit.

With this basic information in hand, you can see your pediatrician who will conduct the following steps.

1. Physical Exam

The doctor will do a full physical exam to rule out any other possibilities that may be causing symptoms such as illnesses or sicknesses.

2. Medical History

Your pediatrician will then ask you questions about your baby’s full medical history and any past illnesses, sicknesses and allergies. You will also be asked about any family history of allergies in your and your partner’s families.

3. Food Habits

Your doctor may ask you questions about any foods that were recently introduced and what symptoms your baby experienced. Your food diary will come in handy in providing all the necessary information to the doctor.

4. Allergy Tests

The doctor will then recommend allergy skin prick tests (along with blood tests) in some cases to confirm the source of the allergy.

[Read : Skin Prick Allergy Test in Children]

Treatment of Milk Allergy in Babies

The treatment involves cutting down the source of allergy completely from your baby’s diet. In case of cow milk allergy, you must stop giving this milk and look for alternatives. For formula milk allergies, your pediatrician will recommend specially formulated milk powders to add to your baby’s diet. In both cases, you must follow the doctor’s advice strictly. Your pediatrician may also recommend a dietitian who will recommend a further course of action

If your infant develops serious reactions, the allergist might give your baby an epinephrine injection. It’s a life-saving drug to save the infant from severe reactions.

You must get your baby evaluated for allergies once every 6 to 12 months based on your doctor’s recommendations to see if your baby is able to get rid of the allergies.

Precautions to Take While Giving Milk to Your Baby

There are a few precautions to take when giving milk to your baby. Following these precautions may reduce the occurrence of milk allergies in your baby to a certain extent.

1. Exclusive Breastfeeding For the First Six Months

Your baby should be exclusively breastfed for at least 6 months of their life unless the pediatrician asks you to supplement it with formula milk. You can start supplementing breastmilk with formula milk once your baby is 6 months old and is ready for solids. Early introducing of formula can lead to allergies in some babies due to an immature digestive system. Gradually, after 6 months, you can introduce them to solid puree foods and formula until they are 1 year old or older.

2. Introducing Cow Milk Only After The Baby is a Year Old

Once the baby is a year old, you can slowly introduce cow milk to the baby. It’s the perfect time to wean.  The composition of cow milk has high levels of protein which a baby younger than a year can struggle to digest. Before one year, your baby has an immature digestive system and giving cow milk, or any other animal milk can play havoc with digestion and result in allergies. Even diluted animal milk is not good if your baby is not one year old.

3. Watching Out For Symptoms of Allergy

Keep an eye out for allergic symptoms or any new behaviors after introducing any new milk to your baby. Follow the three-day rule if needed.

4. Preferring Pasteurized Milk

Once you start cow milk, ensure that you give them pasteurized milk. It should be boiled properly before giving to your baby. You can choose milk fortified with nutrients such as calcium and minerals. Avoid sweetened and flavored milks for infants and toddlers.

5. Milk Types to Avoid

Don’t offer your infant the following milk types as they can hamper your infant’s healthy growing process.

• Oat milk
• Evaporated milk
• Rice milk
• Condensed milk
• Almond milk
• Dried milk
• Powdered milk

[Read : Rice Milk For Babies And Toddlers – Is It A Healthier Alternative?]

When Should You Call The Doctor?

Milk allergy reactions may vary in babies. However, if you notice shortness of breathing, extreme skin rashes, wheezing, swelling face or tongue, call for medical help immediately. In this case, every second counts as vital. Some babies can faint, perhaps a sign of a lethal allergic retort – anaphylactic shock.

Milk allergy in babies is common. Milk allergy doesn’t mean you will stop offering milk to your baby. In fact, milk contains a massive portion of calcium, vital for bone development. So, make sure you consult the doctor and give the prescribed amount or type of milk to your infant.

FAQ’s

1. What is the Difference Between Milk Allergy and Milk Intolerance?

Milk allergy is a type of food allergy caused by the immune system’s negative response to proteins present in milk. Lactose intolerance occurs due to the body’s inability to break down lactose either partially or completely.

2. Can I Use Probiotics For My Baby’s Milk Allergy?

Milk allergy is a common food allergy in infants. Probiotics seem to work effectively in treating milk allergies. However, there’s no medical evidence supporting this claim.

3. What is Galactosemia?

Galactosemia is a condition that affects how the body processes galactose, a simple sugar component present in many foods, including baby foods and formulas.

Read Also: Lactose Intolerance In Babies: Causes, Symptoms, And Treatment