Allergy to cow’s milk proteins: how to locate it?

Allergy to cow’s milk proteins: how to locate it?

Diarrheas, great paleness, vomiting, eczema, urticaria, tears frequent, stop of the growth, anorexia… are as many nonspecific symptoms which can evoke an allergy to cow’s milk proteins.

Allergy to varied and nonspecific symptom, cow’s milk proteins

Between 3 and 6% of the children of less than two years would be concerned with the allergy to cow’s milk proteins. In half of the cases approximately, there exists a family component, i.e. one of the parents is allergic.

The symptoms are very varied and nonspecific. In other words, the signs of the allergy to cow’s milk proteins can be found in many other diseases. In addition, the demonstrations of this food allergy can be immediate or delayed, that is to say to appear 48 to 72 hours after the ingestion of milk. It should be noted that the cow’s milk proteins at the origin of the allergy can come from milk 1st age given to the feeding-bottle, but also of the mother’s milk when the mother who nurses her child consumes dairy produces.

Three types of symptoms of the allergy to cow’s milk proteins

Cutaneous signs: eczema, urticaria, edema, redness or great paleness of the face.

Digestive signs: régurgitations, nauseas, vomiting, abdominal pains, diarrheas, colites, constipation, weight loss, anorexia…

Respiratory signs (less frequent – 20 to 30% of the cases): persistent rhinitis, whistling cough, otitises with repetition, asthma.

Two types of situation

The passage of breast feeding to the first milk feeding-bottle is accompanied by disorders: diarrheas, great paleness, vomiting, eczema, urticaria… This situation generally allows an easier diagnosis.
Certain young children present various disorders far from specific: abdominal pains, stop of the growth, régurgitations, diarrheas persistent, frequent tears, disturbed sleep, anorexia… The diagnosis is more difficult. It is then advisable to proceed by elimination.

To diagnose as soon as possible

It is important to carry the diagnosis as soon as possible because of the possible repercussions, be of the tears and the pains, passing by the delay of growth.
The assumption of responsibility then consists in removing the cow’s milk of the food and replacing it by hydrolysats (proteins easier to digest). At the time of food diversification, an special attention will be necessary in order to avoid cheeses, yoghourts, mashed potatoes with milk, etc And finally, beyond of a year, the cow’s milk proteins will be reintroduced (it is important to carry out this stage in hospital medium). Indeed, the allergy to cow’s milk proteins generally disappears towards the 12 months age. Attention however, these children then more often develop of food asthma and other allergies before the 9 years age.