Milk protein allergy or cow’s milk allergy mainly affects infants and children. Milk protein allergy often heals spontaneously but requires special diets. It should also be distinguished from lactose intolerance.
What is milk protein allergy?
Milk protein allergy is also called cow’s milk allergy or milk allergy. Most commonly, milk protein allergy occurs in babies and children, but in many cases disappears by school entry age. Among milk allergies, milk protein allergy is the most common in babies and children. In adults, milk protein allergy is a comparatively rare form of milk allergy. The milk protein allergy exists here against various proteins (proteins) that are contained in cow’s milk. These proteins include casein or so-called immunoglobulins. A milk protein allergy is often also directed against milk from animals such as goats or sheep. Symptoms that can be triggered by a milk protein allergy include skin rashes or impairment of the gastrointestinal tract (which can manifest as nausea or flatulence, for example). In rare cases, respiratory or circulatory symptoms occur as a result of a milk protein allergy.
Causes
Various causes that can lead to milk protein allergy have not yet been fully clarified in science. However, it is considered an established fact that milk protein allergy can occur in babies due to early confrontation with milk proteins. The background is that the immune system of babies is not yet fully developed to protect the body from potentially allergenic substances such as milk proteins. As a result, milk protein allergy occurs. As a rule, therefore, the younger babies are, the more at risk they are of developing a milk protein allergy. Another causative factor for the development of milk protein allergy is thought to be hereditary; children of people who have milk protein allergy are thought to have a higher risk of suffering from milk protein allergy themselves thereafter.
Symptoms, complaints, and signs
Because the symptoms of a milk protein allergy are nonspecific, it can often be diagnosed with certainty only at a very late stage. They can vary in severity and occur either immediately after consuming milk, or a few hours later. Sometimes just a few drops are enough to trigger an allergic reaction. Allergy to milk protein is only slightly different from intolerance. That is why these two diseases are often confused. However, the intolerance is much less pronounced. Milk protein allergy often manifests itself through digestion. Thus, complaints such as flatulence, constipation or stomach pain may occur. The skin also shows allergic reactions. Sufferers often suffer from itching, severe rashes, eczema or swelling of the face. After consuming large quantities of milk, vomiting or bloody stools may also occur. The disease also affects the psyche: Affected individuals describe symptoms of fatigue, mood swings, and even depression. In rare cases, anaphylactic shock, i.e. a circulatory collapse, can occur. Whether the symptoms indicate a milk protein allergy can be determined by means of a food diary. If the symptoms then always occur after the consumption of milk or milk products, an allergy can almost certainly be assumed. It should be noted that reactions are often less severe with processed milk.
Diagnosis and course
Especially in young children, milk protein allergy often takes a favorable course if the administration of milk proteins is omitted from their diet. In this context, a favorable course is understood to mean that the milk protein allergy resolves on its own. Statistically, such a favorable course of the milk protein allergy can be assumed for about 80 percent of the affected children. In rare cases, milk protein allergy persists into adulthood. Children who suffer from a milk protein allergy have an increased risk of developing further allergies. To diagnose a milk protein allergy, blood tests as well as so-called prick tests or subcutaneous tests may be suitable (depending on the proteins against which the allergy is directed).In prick and subcutaneous tests, the skin of a potentially affected person is brought into contact with possible allergens. Appropriate skin reactions may eventually indicate a milk protein allergy.
Complications
Cow’s milk or milk protein allergy usually progresses without complications if the allergen is consistently avoided, provided it is correctly diagnosed. Even newborns may have an allergic reaction to milk protein. Complications such as asthma or hives can only occur if the milk protein allergy remains undiagnosed and untreated for a long time. Since the symptoms of milk protein allergy are relatively nonspecific, the constant intake of cow’s milk products can cause late effects in the intestinal system. The overreaction of the immune system triggered by milk protein may have been genetically influenced. However, researchers are also focusing on other causative factors. Casein allergy sufferers should avoid all dairy products to prevent later complications. Whey protein allergy sufferers often tolerate mare’s, sheep’s or goat’s milk, as well as soy and rice milk. Many sufferers have a milk protein allergy, which includes allergic reactions to casein and whey protein. The worst conceivable complication of a milk protein allergy is anaphylactic shock after consuming cow’s milk. Sometimes minimal amounts of a dairy product are enough to cause an allergic reaction. Further complications with a more favorable course, but the impossibility of renouncing cow’s milk, can result from the administered antihistamines or a drug containing cortisone. These preparations show side effects when taken for many years, especially the cortisone. Therefore, to avoid complications and secondary damage, consistent avoidance of allergens is paramount.
When should you go to the doctor?
As a rule, a milk protein allergy should be examined and treated by a doctor, since it usually does not disappear on its own. Seeing a doctor is always recommended and can significantly relieve symptoms. In acute emergencies, the emergency doctor can also be called or the hospital visited. If the milk protein allergy has not yet been recognized, a doctor can be consulted if the affected person suffers from pain in the area of the abdomen or stomach. Especially after the consumption of dairy products, these pains can indicate the milk protein allergy and should be examined. Furthermore, depression or mood swings indicate milk protein allergy. If severe, this allergy can even lead to shock, which should be treated by an emergency physician. The first diagnosis can be made by the family doctor. Further treatment is often done with the help of medication and by a suitable diet, so that the symptoms can be limited.
Treatment and therapy
Therapy cannot cure milk protein allergy, but only alleviate or resolve the associated symptoms. Appropriate therapeutic measures for milk protein allergy lie primarily in a targeted avoidance of the intake of certain proteins by the affected person. For this purpose, it makes sense to have a diet plan drawn up in consultation with the attending physician, which takes into account the individual structure of a milk protein allergy and excludes allergy-causing proteins. However, since proteins and also the calcium contained in milk are important for the body, a diet plan for a milk protein allergy should include alternative foods through which the requirement can be covered. It is also often necessary to enrich a diet plan for milk protein allergy separately with nutrients containing vitamins. Especially in children and infants, an adequate diet for milk protein allergy can be achieved, for example, by giving special replacement foods or by giving appropriate supplements.
Outlook and prognosis
Milk protein allergy cannot be treated and, accordingly, there is no prospect of cure. Adults who suffer from it must come to terms with it. However, severe impairment is also not present in some cases of milk protein allergy. Medically, there are no restrictions at all if the allergen is consistently avoided. In the worst case, anaphylactic shock occurs as a result of the allergy. The prognosis here depends on how quickly emergency care is given.The patient must then be stabilized in the hospital, where the quality of the much influences the prospect of complete recovery. In children, it is also the case that 90 percent of young children allergic to milk protein have developed tolerance by the time they reach school age. In them, the allergy disappears by itself, which can be explained by a fully developed digestive system. In addition, milk protein allergies vary in nature: it is also possible to be allergic to species-specific milk proteins from goats, mares or sheep. Accordingly, there are also milk protein allergy sufferers who do not learn of their allergy throughout their lives. In most cases where the allergen is ingested accidentally, the consequences are also comparatively harmless. The intestinal symptoms usually pass after a few hours and permanent damage is not to be expected.
Prevention
Experts consider feeding an infant with breast milk, for example, to be a good way to prevent a milk protein allergy. Breastfeeding strengthens an infant’s immune system. If it is not possible to feed an infant exclusively through breastfeeding, it is advised to avoid giving cow’s milk or products containing cow’s milk in order to prevent a milk protein allergy. The latter is especially true for infants who are at increased risk for milk protein allergy.
Follow-up
Since milk protein allergy is relatively well treated, so that there are no particular restrictions or other complaints in the life of the affected person, there is no need for classic aftercare. As with any allergy, if left untreated it can lead to various complications and discomforts, so the sufferer should contact a doctor at the first symptoms and signs of this condition. Possible interactions should be discussed with a doctor. In most cases, the patient’s life expectancy is not negatively affected by allergy. However, if a shock or severe attack occurs, the hospital may be contacted directly or the emergency physician may be called. It may be necessary for those affected to change their habits or diet in order to avoid the substances that trigger the allergy. This is the only way to avoid further complications.
What you can do yourself
A large proportion of patients suffering from milk protein allergy are children. Plagued parents should exercise patience here. Tolerance to milk protein develops in about 90 percent of those affected, often before they reach the age of six. Patients who are not allergic to casein but only to whey proteins usually tolerate ultra-high temperature milk products, since whey proteins are destroyed by high temperatures. Very often this group can also consume horse, sheep or goat milk products without problems. Those affected should therefore definitely have it clarified to which proteins of cow’s milk they are actually allergic. In addition, an allergy test for soy, lupins, rice and almonds is recommended. For those who tolerate these foods well, there is now a wide range of plant-based substitute products available. The increasing popularity of vegan foods has led to “plant milk” now being offered even in discount stores. Since plant-based milk alternatives differ much more than cow’s milk in terms of taste and consistency, different varieties should be tried until a product is found that tastes good. In addition to milk alternatives, there are also cream, yogurt and cheese on a plant basis. If you are inexperienced in this area yourself, it is best to ask a vegetarian or vegan in your circle of acquaintances about the stores with the best range of substitute products in the respective city.