A milk allergy is an abnormal immune system reaction to milk and milk-containing products. Usually it is one of the most common food allergies in children. You might not know that milk is a common cause of allergy. But goat, buffalo and goat milk can also cause this reaction.
This allergic reaction occurs immediately after your baby or your baby consumes milk. Symptoms range from mild to severe and may include wheezing, vomiting, hives, and digestive problems. Anaphylaxis is also mostly caused by a milk allergy. This is a serious, life-threatening reaction.
Avoiding milk products and milk is the primary treatment for milk allergy. If you do not believe knowing you, then let us tell you that most children outgrow milk allergy. Those who do not outgrow it may have to continue to avoid dairy products. Let’s look about the some milk protein allergy symptoms.
Milk Protein Allergy Symptoms
Depending on the individual, milk allergy symptoms might appear minutes to hours after you or your child consumes milk or dairy products. Here is the immediate signs and symptoms of milk allergy might include:
- Wheezing
- Hives
- Coughing or shortness of breath
- Itching or tingling feeling around the lips or mouth
- Swelling of the lips, tongue or throat
- Vomiting
Here is the list of signs & symptoms that may take Occurs time to develop includes following:
- Watery eyes
- Colic, in babies
- Abdominal cramps
- Runny nose
- Loose stools or diarrhea, which may contain blood
Milk allergy or milk intolerance?
Milk protein intolerance and lactose intolerance is totally different from a true milk allergy. Milk allergy does not involve the immune system like milk allergy. And the milk intolerance totally requires different treatment from true milk allergy. So, we can say both are different & requires different treatment.
But there are some common symptoms that occurs both in milk protein intolerance or lactose intolerance includes:
- Digestive problems
- Bloating
- Gas or diarrhea, after consuming milk or products containing milk.
Anaphylaxis
Milk allergy becomes the main reason of anaphylaxis. It is a life-threatening reaction that can block breathing & narrows the airways. Let me tell you an interesting thing – after peanuts & tree nuts – milk is the third most common food that may cause anaphylaxis. No matter how little the reaction, if you or your child reacts to milk, you should still let your doctor know. Tests can help determine whether you are allergic to milk, preventing future and potentially worse responses.
Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency and requires treatment with an epinephrine (adrenaline) shot (EpiPen, Adrenaclick, others) and a trip to the emergency room. Signs and symptoms start soon after milk consumption and can include:
- Facial flushing
- Constriction of airways, including a swollen throat that makes it difficult to breathe
- Itching
- Shock, with a marked drop in blood pressure
When you need to see a doctor
You need to consult to your doctor or an allergist incase your child get effected from milk allergy symptoms shortly after consuming the milk. You need to consult your doctor during the allergic reaction to help make a diagnosis. If you or your child exhibits anaphylactic symptoms, seek immediate care.
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