What Is a Milk Allergy?
Usually, a baby who is allergic to milk has an overactive immune system that overreacts to the proteins in milk. When a child drinks milk, his/her body thinks the proteins are invaders, and the body fights them fiercely. As a result, histamine is released by the body, resulting in an allergic reaction. Food allergies are a common allergy in infants. Approximately 1-1.5 percent of infants have food allergies. Nevertheless, the risk of a reaction is higher if the baby is artificially fed or mixed. In general, 85% of all reactions are related to only one allergen – cow’s milk proteins. Other common allergens include eggs, peanuts, and nuts.
What are the symptoms of an infant’s allergic reaction?
What are some ways to know if your baby is allergic to the formula in comparison with other issues, such as digestive problems or contact dermatitis caused by detergents? No one answer fits all. Since some babies’ symptoms may appear immediately while others may take hours or even days to appear. Here are a few symptoms of newborn allergies so that you’ll have some idea. Firstly, your baby may have gas. An achy tummy may cause the baby to frequently lift his legs. It may indicate colic if the baby cries while doing this. Furthermore, sometimes a child can be overtly negative about feeding: vomiting, spitting up food, having difficulty swallowing due to reflux (food flowing backward into the esophagus), or having difficulty swallowing. Children can also experience diarrhea. In children with a formula allergy, watery, puffy stools with an unpleasant odor indicate dehydration, so get your child seen by a pediatrician right away. Additionally, a colic problem in an infant may often be misinterpreted as constipation, which is also indicative of an allergy.
An allergic reaction in a child can cause:
- Respiratory problems
- Wheezing during breathing
- Cough
- Throat irritation
- Feeling tight in the throat
- Indigestion
- Nausea
- Bloating
- Watery, itchy, or swollen eyes
- swollen
- ankles or feet losing consciousness
- Feeling dizzy
How to avoid a milk allergy or should I immediately take action if my baby has a milk allergy?
What to do if you are a breastfeeding mother?
If you are breastfeeding, Discuss dietary changes with your allergist if your breastfed baby has a milk allergy.
What to do if your formula-fed baby has a milk allergy?
You may be advised to switch to a formula containing extensively hydrolyzed proteins or containing amino acids so as to reduce the possibility of an allergic reaction. Similarly, you can find “partially hydrolyzed” formulas, but they are not necessarily hypoallergenic and can trigger serious reactions. If you are concerned about your baby having a milk allergy, you can ask your doctor which formula is safe for him. Avoid making your own formula at home. Unlike home remedies, commercially produced formulas are regulated by the FDA and produced via a very specialized process that is impossible to replicate at home. Allergy-prone babies should not be offered older children’s milk.
