Food allergies can happen to anyone including kids. It is just that while adults can ably identify what they are allergic to, kids can’t. That is why it is parents' responsibility to figure out if their child is intolerant to some food or dairy item. Here, we would specifically talk about milk allergy in kids. There are some kids who are born with lactose intolerance while some develop it in later years. A majority of the children are allergic to cow milk. Some have an intolerance for dairy also. Being a parent, you must watch out for the signs of allergy in your tot.
The Reason Behind Milk Allergy in Children
Milk allergies may occur due to certain proteins found in milk and milk products. In people allergic to milk, the body recognizes certain milk proteins as harmful and produces a risk of producing antibodies called immunoglobulin E to neutralize the protein. Every time you are exposed to proteins, antibodies recognize them and signal your immune system to release histamine and other chemicals. This results in allergic reactions. Milk allergy is more common in children than in adults because the digestive system of children is weak.
It occurs due to the lack of lactase enzyme. When the lactose of milk reaches the small intestine, the lactase enzyme breaks down glucose and galactose from there. Due to which milk is not easily digested. Lactose is a natural sugar found in milk and milk products. When one is unable to digest milk, he has a problem with lactose intake. This causes allergic problems as well as digestive problems.
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Signs and Symptoms
Children or people who are allergic to milk do not feel that quickly. Usually, people with milk allergy have symptoms for several hours or after several days. Milk allergies are most common in newborns and children, which can have many symptoms.
- Dark yellow urine and passing of mucus & blood, in the worst case
- Stomach cramps due to milk allergy are also a common symptom.
- Some people also have skin rashes due to milk allergy.
- Diarrhea and cough are also common symptoms.
- In addition, wet eyes, a runny nose can also be a sign of this.
- Some symptoms of milk allergy are soon visible, such as nausea, vomiting, nervousness, itching near the lips and swollen lips and throat are also common symptoms.
- Some children also get an anaphylactic shock due to milk allergy, which can cause swelling in the child's lips, throat, and mouth. Anaphylactic may cause blood loss, difficulty breathing. It should be published immediately, otherwise, it can be fatal.
Tips for prevention
- As soon as you find your allergic to some milk or milk product, stop its consumption. Also, don’t feed him any product which has milk in it.
- You should first consult a pediatrician for milk allergy.
- If you are feeding the baby, then feed milk that does not contain lactose. In this situation, try feeding the baby with soy milk.
Read More in Children's Health
