An allergy occurs when the immune system reacts to the proteins found in milk. The body reacts to the proteins in milk as if they were a harmful substance. Children are most prone to dairy allergy but anyone can be affected at any time in their life.
 ALLERGY TO COW'S MILK
Allergy to cow’s milk affects 2-7% of babies under 1 year old. Children usually grow out of a milk allergy by the age of 3. However, about 1 fifth of children who have an allergy to cow’s milk will still be allergic to it as adults.
SYMPTOMS
Symptoms of a dairy allergy can occur very quickly and range from the very minor such as nettle rash and digestive upsets, to the severe, such as anaphylactic shock where the throat swells up, making it difficult to breath. Other symptoms include: diarrhoea, vomiting and stomach cramps.
Symptoms can often be misdiagnosed, especially in children where colic or eczema may be diagnosed whilst the true underlying cause of the problem goes unrecognised.
DID YOU KNOW?
Children with eczema can benefit from removing dairy from their diet because cow's milk is a common allergen for those with this skin condition. |
