If you think your infant is allergic to milk, call your baby's doctor. He or she will ask you questions and talk to you about what's going on. After the doctor examines your baby, some stool tests and blood tests might be ordered. The doctor may refer you to an allergist a doctor who specializes in treating allergies. The allergist might do skin testing. In skin testing, the doctor or nurse will place a tiny bit of milk protein on the skin, then make a small scratch on the skin.
If your child reacts to the allergen, the skin will swell a little in that area like an insect bite. If the allergist finds that your baby is at risk for a serious allergic reaction, epinephrine auto-injectors will be prescribed. If you're formula feeding , your doctor may advise you to switch to an extensively hydrolyzed formula or an amino acid-based formula in which the proteins are broken down into particles so that the formula is less likely to trigger an allergic reaction.
You also might see "partially hydrolyzed" formulas, but these aren't truly hypoallergenic and can lead to a significant allergic reaction. If you're concerned about a milk allergy, it's always best to talk with your child's doctor and work together to choose a formula that's safe for your baby. These can affect multiple body parts, or systems digestive, skin, respiratory or general.
These are not specific to CMA, meaning they can signal other conditions. That makes CMA difficult to identify. First you must identify the cause of these signs and symptoms, then you can manage the condition and symptoms. Parents often tell us they waited months before their child was officially diagnosed with CMA. This often involves multiple doctor visits with few answers. Being able to spot possible signs of CMA may lead to recognizing it earlier.
The following video outlines 8 signs and symptoms that may cause a healthcare team to suspect CMA. The list comes from a Board-certified pediatric allergist. This is certainly not a comprehensive list — some signs and symptoms are less common.
Also, not every infant with one or more of these signs will be diagnosed with CMA. Finally, every infant who develops an allergy will have a unique experience. Parents who see these in their baby can ask the doctor if they might signal CMA. Diarrhea can be very concerning to someone caring for an infant.
Every infant has loose stools from time to time. However, if you see multiple loose or liquid stools a day, it could signal a milk allergy. Over half of children with CMA can have diarrhea, the most common digestive symptom.
Remember: diarrhea has many causes. Ask your healthcare team if you think your little one has diarrhea. Here are great resources with more detail about baby bowel movements:. Believe it or not, constipation can also signal CMA in infants. Blood in the stool is a likely sign of CMA in infants. The blood results from inflammation in the gut. It can appear in the diaper as either red or black. Red blood means the bleeding is in the lower end of the gut.
Black color usually signals bleeding higher up, like from uncontrolled reflux. Allergic symptoms to CMPA can happen immediately after feeding or they can be delayed. In the case of immediate symptoms such as swelling of the lips or the tongue or breathing difficulties, immediate medical help must be sought.
This type of reaction is described as IgE mediated food allergy. A food allergen can also cause what's sometimes called a delayed food allergy. Although any food can be a trigger, milk is one of the most common. The reaction, commonly vomiting and diarrhea, usually occurs within hours after eating the trigger rather than within minutes. Children who are allergic to milk are more likely to develop certain other health problems, including:. There's no sure way to prevent a food allergy, but you can prevent reactions by avoiding the food that causes them.
If you know you or your child is allergic to milk, avoid milk and milk products. Read food labels carefully. Look for casein, a milk derivative, which can be found in some unexpected places, such as in some canned tuna, sausage or nondairy products.
Question ingredients when ordering in restaurants. Milk can be harder to identify when it's used as an ingredient in processed foods, including baked goods and processed meats. Hidden sources of milk include:. Even if a food is labeled "milk-free" or "nondairy," it may contain allergy-causing milk proteins — so you have to read the label carefully.
When in doubt, contact the manufacturer to be sure a product doesn't contain milk ingredients. When eating out, ask how foods have been prepared. Does your steak have melted butter on it? Was your seafood dipped in milk before cooking? If you're at risk of a serious allergic reaction, talk with your doctor about carrying and using emergency epinephrine adrenaline.
If you have already had a severe reaction, wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace that lets others know you have a food allergy. In children who are allergic to milk, breast-feeding and the use of hypoallergenic formula can prevent allergic reactions. Hypoallergenic formulas are produced by using enzymes to break down hydrolyze milk proteins, such as casein or whey. Further processing can include heat and filtering. Depending on their level of processing, products are classified as either partially or extensively hydrolyzed.
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