What is Cow's Milk Allergy? What are the symptoms?
June 27, 2017
Foodviki
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Cow's milk is a common cause of food allergy in infants. In Australia and New Zealand around 2 per cent (1 in 50) infants are allergic to cow's milk and other dairy products. Although most children outgrow cow's milk allergy by the age of 4 years, persistent cow's milk allergy may sometimes occur. However, ongoing symptoms in adults are very rare.
Cow's Milk Allergy, or CMA, is the most common type of food allergy in infants and young children in the UK and typically develops in the first year of life. It's an allergic reaction to the protein in cow's milk and it does not only manifest in formula-fed babies - some very sensitive babies may also react to traces of the protein within breast milk.
The sections on this page will help you understand what cow's milk allergy is, which symptoms you should look out for and what you can do if you suspect that your baby may have an allergy to cow's milk. If you think that your child might be showing signs and symptoms of cow's milk allergy, please speak to your GP who can investigate further or refer your child to a specialist if required.
Cow's Milk Allergy: How common is it?
Cow's Milk Allergy is the most common food allergy in infants and young children, presenting typically at 3-6 months (rarely after 12 months).
What is Cow's Milk Allergy?
Cow's Milk Allergy (CMA) is an allergic reaction to the protein in cows' milk. In short, an allergic reaction to food occurs when the body's immune system responds inappropriately to something in a particular food. Symptoms can occur immediately or can be delayed for up to a couple of days later. Cow's milk allergy can occur in formula-fed or breast-fed infants.
What Causes Food Allergies?
It is not clearly understood why some children's immune systems try to 'fight' certain foods or the proteins they contain. In general, infants and young children are much more sensitive as their immune systems are still quite immature. Children coming from a family with an extensive history of allergy have a greater risk of developing food allergy than those with allergy-free relatives. However, even infants and children having no family history of allergy at all can have allergic symptoms. Find out about the allergic symptoms associated with CMA.
Symptoms of Cow's Milk Allergy
Could your baby have Cow's Milk Allergy (CMA)?
It's not always easy to spot the symptoms of food allergies, even for doctors, as some of the signs are also seen in other conditions commonly seen in infants and children. It is therefore important that you make a list of all symptoms your child is experiencing over a period of time and discuss these with your doctor. Your child's doctor will be able to tell you whether the symptoms relate to CMA or whether something else is causing them.
What symptoms to look out for?
The following symptoms are typical of Cow's Milk Allergy, especially if accompanied by restless sleep or excessive crying:
Using the symptom checklist below can help you to understand which symptoms to look out for. It can take time to exclude other causes and know for sure whether your child has CMA. Of course, this is a difficult time not only for your child but for you as parents too.
Visiting your child's doctor
How can you find out if your child is allergic to cow's milk?
Diagnosing CMA can mean a bit more than a single test at the doctor's. Your child's symptoms, medical history and overall assessment will be taken into account along with any test results if applicable. It is therefore important that you visit your healthcare professional if you suspect that your child may have CMA to discuss your child's symptoms and rule out any other conditions potentially causing the symptoms.
How is Cow's Milk Allergy diagnosed?
If you suspect that your baby might be showing some symptoms of cow's milk allergy, the first step will be to visit your doctor to discuss your concerns.
Your baby's symptoms, medical history and overall assessment will help guide a diagnosis.
Most people think of food allergy as a very quick reaction causing symptoms such as swelling of the lips and breathing problems. However, some food allergies, such as cow's milk allergy, can either occur quickly or be much more delayed (see section Symptoms of Cow's Milk Allergy).
Preparing for your doctor's appointment
Identifying cow's milk allergy symptoms is the first step in providing relief for your baby. So the more you tell or can show your doctor, the better. Completing these five simple steps may help prepare you for your doctor's visit. Some other useful items include:
Use a symptom checklist to familiarize yourself with the symptoms of CMA
Keeping a symptom diary can be very useful
Prepare questions that you might like to ask your doctor
Make a note of any information about your family's and child's medical history
Take photographs or videos of your child's symptoms
Make a note of your questions and points you'd like to share with the doctor
There is a lot to cover at the doctor's appointment so it's a good idea to make a note of any questions you might like to ask your doctor so you don't forget.
Here's a list of common questions to help you get started:
Could my child's symptoms be caused by food allergy?
Is it possible to confirm if my child has one or more food allergies?
Are there any allergy tests?
Do I need to see a specialist?
What will be the next steps?
Here's a list of common questions the doctor may ask upon your visit. You might like to write down your answers and take them with you to the visit:
What are your child's symptoms?
How old was your child when you first noticed the symptoms?
How quickly do symptoms develop?
How often do they happen? Are they the same every time?
Do the same symptoms happen each time your infant eats a particular food?
Is there a family history of allergy, especially parents or siblings?
Do you suspect a specific food is involved - either in your child's diet or your own diet if you are breastfeeding? – If so, how much of the suspected food does your child need to eat for symptoms to appear?
child crying
How will the doctor confirm the diagnosis?
Your child's doctor will use all of the information you provide to help decide whether allergy tests are called for.
Allergy testing can involve skin prick tests, blood tests and elimination diets. Your doctor will be able to provide you with more information about this. Allergy tests always need to be performed under medical supervision of a doctor or other qualified medical professional.
Next steps: Learn more about how your doctor can help to manage your baby's cow's milk allergy
happy baby
The first and most important step is to visit your healthcare professional to find out if your baby has CMA. They will be able to give you advice on how to appropriately manage your child's condition.
CMA symptoms can be managed by eliminating cow's milk protein from your child's diet.
If your baby receives a diagnosis of cow's milk allergy, your doctor or dietitian will likely advise you to remove all cow's milk protein from their diet. If you are breastfeeding, your doctor will discuss with you whether to remove cow's milk protein (dairy products) from your diet, and will advise you on how to do this. You should never remove cow's milk from your or your child's diet without the supervision or advice of a doctor or dietitian, as milk contains many important nutrients for your baby.
Breastfeeding & CMA
Breastfeeding is best for your baby. If your baby is diagnosed with CMA, you can continue to breastfeed, however your doctor or dietitian will most likely advise you to make some adjustments to your diet and potentially take extra supplements. Please speak to your healthcare professional for more information.
Breastfeeding is best: however, when breastfeeding is not an option, your doctor or dietitian will be able to advise you as to whether it would be appropriate to give your child a specialised infant formula specially developed for children with cow's milk allergy. Most of these formulas are available on prescription only and should be used under medical supervision of a healthcare professional. Please speak to your doctor or dietitian for more information.
What are the types of infant formula?
Standard infant formula that you can buy in a supermarket or local shop
These are generally not suitable for babies allergic to the proteins in cow's milk. This is because they are based on milk powder and therefore contain whole cow's milk proteins. These proteins can cause allergic reactions in babies with CMA. If you are considering changing your baby to another type of formula, it is very important that you first discuss this with your child's doctor or dietitian as other commercially available standard infant formulas may not be suitable. Please speak to your doctor or dietitian for more information.
Extensively hydrolysed formulas (eHF)
Extensively hydrolysed formulas are specialised formulas that can be prescribed by a doctor for use in the dietary management of CMA. In these formulas, the cow's milk protein has been broken down into small fragments which are less likely to cause an allergic reaction. However, as eHFs still contain fragments of milk protein, they may still cause symptoms in children with severe cow's milk allergy. Please speak to your doctor or dietitian for more information.
eHFs are classed as 'Foods for Special Medical Purposes' and should always be used under medical supervision of a healthcare professional.
Amino acid-based formulas (AAF)
Amino acid-based formulas are specialised formulas, also available on prescription. Instead of being based on whole or broken down cow's milk protein, they are based on individual amino acids. Amino acids are also known as the building blocks of protein and, as they are very small, they are not recognised by the immune system. As a result, they are very unlikely to provoke an allergic reaction in children with cow's milk allergy. Please speak your doctor or dietitian for more information.
AAFs are classed as 'Foods for Special Medical Purposes' and should always be used under medical supervision of a healthcare professional.
Other Milks
Soya-based infant formulas contain soya protein derived from soya flour, and a mixture of carbohydrates in the form of sucrose and corn syrup. Medical guidelines in the UK and the USA do not recommend soya products for infants under the age of 6 months. If your child is over 6 months and your child's doctor or dietitian suggests a soya formula because of CMA, tolerance to soya protein may well need to be checked first. Please speak to your doctor or dietitian for more information.
In some countries, milk from other mammals such as goats and sheep have traditionally been used for feeding infants with CMA. Such milks are not always tolerated by babies allergic to cow's milk as the proteins are very similar in structure to cow's milk protein. Cereal milks, such as oats milk, could be another option, but if these milks are not fortified, some vitamins and minerals may be missing, and there could be inadequate amounts of essential nutrients your baby needs. Equally the UK's Food Standard Agency recommends that children under the age of 4.5 years do not consume rice milk. Please speak to your doctor or dietitian for more information.
Foodviki
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Cow's milk is a common cause of food allergy in infants. In Australia and New Zealand around 2 per cent (1 in 50) infants are allergic to cow's milk and other dairy products. Although most children outgrow cow's milk allergy by the age of 4 years, persistent cow's milk allergy may sometimes occur. However, ongoing symptoms in adults are very rare.
Cow's Milk Allergy, or CMA, is the most common type of food allergy in infants and young children in the UK and typically develops in the first year of life. It's an allergic reaction to the protein in cow's milk and it does not only manifest in formula-fed babies - some very sensitive babies may also react to traces of the protein within breast milk.
The sections on this page will help you understand what cow's milk allergy is, which symptoms you should look out for and what you can do if you suspect that your baby may have an allergy to cow's milk. If you think that your child might be showing signs and symptoms of cow's milk allergy, please speak to your GP who can investigate further or refer your child to a specialist if required.
Cow's Milk Allergy: How common is it?
Cow's Milk Allergy is the most common food allergy in infants and young children, presenting typically at 3-6 months (rarely after 12 months).
What is Cow's Milk Allergy?
Cow's Milk Allergy (CMA) is an allergic reaction to the protein in cows' milk. In short, an allergic reaction to food occurs when the body's immune system responds inappropriately to something in a particular food. Symptoms can occur immediately or can be delayed for up to a couple of days later. Cow's milk allergy can occur in formula-fed or breast-fed infants.
What Causes Food Allergies?
It is not clearly understood why some children's immune systems try to 'fight' certain foods or the proteins they contain. In general, infants and young children are much more sensitive as their immune systems are still quite immature. Children coming from a family with an extensive history of allergy have a greater risk of developing food allergy than those with allergy-free relatives. However, even infants and children having no family history of allergy at all can have allergic symptoms. Find out about the allergic symptoms associated with CMA.
Symptoms of Cow's Milk Allergy
Could your baby have Cow's Milk Allergy (CMA)?
It's not always easy to spot the symptoms of food allergies, even for doctors, as some of the signs are also seen in other conditions commonly seen in infants and children. It is therefore important that you make a list of all symptoms your child is experiencing over a period of time and discuss these with your doctor. Your child's doctor will be able to tell you whether the symptoms relate to CMA or whether something else is causing them.
What symptoms to look out for?
The following symptoms are typical of Cow's Milk Allergy, especially if accompanied by restless sleep or excessive crying:
- baby's face
- reflux
- vomiting
- diarrhoea
- baby's face
- eczema
- baby's face
- colic
- back arching
- not feeding
- baby's face
- wheezing
Using the symptom checklist below can help you to understand which symptoms to look out for. It can take time to exclude other causes and know for sure whether your child has CMA. Of course, this is a difficult time not only for your child but for you as parents too.
Visiting your child's doctor
How can you find out if your child is allergic to cow's milk?
Diagnosing CMA can mean a bit more than a single test at the doctor's. Your child's symptoms, medical history and overall assessment will be taken into account along with any test results if applicable. It is therefore important that you visit your healthcare professional if you suspect that your child may have CMA to discuss your child's symptoms and rule out any other conditions potentially causing the symptoms.
How is Cow's Milk Allergy diagnosed?
If you suspect that your baby might be showing some symptoms of cow's milk allergy, the first step will be to visit your doctor to discuss your concerns.
Your baby's symptoms, medical history and overall assessment will help guide a diagnosis.
Most people think of food allergy as a very quick reaction causing symptoms such as swelling of the lips and breathing problems. However, some food allergies, such as cow's milk allergy, can either occur quickly or be much more delayed (see section Symptoms of Cow's Milk Allergy).
Preparing for your doctor's appointment
Identifying cow's milk allergy symptoms is the first step in providing relief for your baby. So the more you tell or can show your doctor, the better. Completing these five simple steps may help prepare you for your doctor's visit. Some other useful items include:
Use a symptom checklist to familiarize yourself with the symptoms of CMA
Keeping a symptom diary can be very useful
Prepare questions that you might like to ask your doctor
Make a note of any information about your family's and child's medical history
Take photographs or videos of your child's symptoms
Make a note of your questions and points you'd like to share with the doctor
There is a lot to cover at the doctor's appointment so it's a good idea to make a note of any questions you might like to ask your doctor so you don't forget.
Here's a list of common questions to help you get started:
Could my child's symptoms be caused by food allergy?
Is it possible to confirm if my child has one or more food allergies?
Are there any allergy tests?
Do I need to see a specialist?
What will be the next steps?
Here's a list of common questions the doctor may ask upon your visit. You might like to write down your answers and take them with you to the visit:
What are your child's symptoms?
How old was your child when you first noticed the symptoms?
How quickly do symptoms develop?
How often do they happen? Are they the same every time?
Do the same symptoms happen each time your infant eats a particular food?
Is there a family history of allergy, especially parents or siblings?
Do you suspect a specific food is involved - either in your child's diet or your own diet if you are breastfeeding? – If so, how much of the suspected food does your child need to eat for symptoms to appear?
child crying
How will the doctor confirm the diagnosis?
Your child's doctor will use all of the information you provide to help decide whether allergy tests are called for.
Allergy testing can involve skin prick tests, blood tests and elimination diets. Your doctor will be able to provide you with more information about this. Allergy tests always need to be performed under medical supervision of a doctor or other qualified medical professional.
Next steps: Learn more about how your doctor can help to manage your baby's cow's milk allergy
happy baby
The first and most important step is to visit your healthcare professional to find out if your baby has CMA. They will be able to give you advice on how to appropriately manage your child's condition.
CMA symptoms can be managed by eliminating cow's milk protein from your child's diet.
If your baby receives a diagnosis of cow's milk allergy, your doctor or dietitian will likely advise you to remove all cow's milk protein from their diet. If you are breastfeeding, your doctor will discuss with you whether to remove cow's milk protein (dairy products) from your diet, and will advise you on how to do this. You should never remove cow's milk from your or your child's diet without the supervision or advice of a doctor or dietitian, as milk contains many important nutrients for your baby.
Breastfeeding & CMA
Breastfeeding is best for your baby. If your baby is diagnosed with CMA, you can continue to breastfeed, however your doctor or dietitian will most likely advise you to make some adjustments to your diet and potentially take extra supplements. Please speak to your healthcare professional for more information.
Breastfeeding is best: however, when breastfeeding is not an option, your doctor or dietitian will be able to advise you as to whether it would be appropriate to give your child a specialised infant formula specially developed for children with cow's milk allergy. Most of these formulas are available on prescription only and should be used under medical supervision of a healthcare professional. Please speak to your doctor or dietitian for more information.
What are the types of infant formula?
Standard infant formula that you can buy in a supermarket or local shop
These are generally not suitable for babies allergic to the proteins in cow's milk. This is because they are based on milk powder and therefore contain whole cow's milk proteins. These proteins can cause allergic reactions in babies with CMA. If you are considering changing your baby to another type of formula, it is very important that you first discuss this with your child's doctor or dietitian as other commercially available standard infant formulas may not be suitable. Please speak to your doctor or dietitian for more information.
Extensively hydrolysed formulas (eHF)
Extensively hydrolysed formulas are specialised formulas that can be prescribed by a doctor for use in the dietary management of CMA. In these formulas, the cow's milk protein has been broken down into small fragments which are less likely to cause an allergic reaction. However, as eHFs still contain fragments of milk protein, they may still cause symptoms in children with severe cow's milk allergy. Please speak to your doctor or dietitian for more information.
eHFs are classed as 'Foods for Special Medical Purposes' and should always be used under medical supervision of a healthcare professional.
Amino acid-based formulas (AAF)
Amino acid-based formulas are specialised formulas, also available on prescription. Instead of being based on whole or broken down cow's milk protein, they are based on individual amino acids. Amino acids are also known as the building blocks of protein and, as they are very small, they are not recognised by the immune system. As a result, they are very unlikely to provoke an allergic reaction in children with cow's milk allergy. Please speak your doctor or dietitian for more information.
AAFs are classed as 'Foods for Special Medical Purposes' and should always be used under medical supervision of a healthcare professional.
Other Milks
Soya-based infant formulas contain soya protein derived from soya flour, and a mixture of carbohydrates in the form of sucrose and corn syrup. Medical guidelines in the UK and the USA do not recommend soya products for infants under the age of 6 months. If your child is over 6 months and your child's doctor or dietitian suggests a soya formula because of CMA, tolerance to soya protein may well need to be checked first. Please speak to your doctor or dietitian for more information.
In some countries, milk from other mammals such as goats and sheep have traditionally been used for feeding infants with CMA. Such milks are not always tolerated by babies allergic to cow's milk as the proteins are very similar in structure to cow's milk protein. Cereal milks, such as oats milk, could be another option, but if these milks are not fortified, some vitamins and minerals may be missing, and there could be inadequate amounts of essential nutrients your baby needs. Equally the UK's Food Standard Agency recommends that children under the age of 4.5 years do not consume rice milk. Please speak to your doctor or dietitian for more information.
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