Milk allergy and lactose intolerance
It’s thought that 2-3 percent of babies have a milk allergy and while most will grow out of it by around three years, it can pose problems in terms of feeding and ensuring that your child receives a diet that provides all the nutrients he needs.
Milk allergies are different from lactose intolerance – an allergy is an immune reaction, whereas lactose intolerance stems from an inability to digest a sugar contained in milk. It’s very rare for a baby to be lactose intolerant, but older children can be.
Milk allergy
Allergies occur when a person’s immune system overreacts against a normally harmless substance – in your baby’s case it’ll be protein within his formula milk (milk allergies are rare in breastfed babies although they can occur if you eat a dairy-rich diet, as the protein responsible can cross into breast milk). His symptoms will vary, but can include anything from eczema and diarrhea to wheezing and constipation. A milk allergy usually becomes apparent within a baby’s first few weeks or after weaning onto formula milk or solids. Your pediatrician will confirm the diagnosis with some simple tests and may ask you to restrict cows’ milk formula or dairy for a week before reintroducing them to see how your baby reacts.
Treatment
If you’re breastfeeding and your baby develops a milk allergy, you’ll need to cut down the amount of dairy you consume. Make sure you get enough calcium from other sources, such as leafy green vegeatables, fortified fruit juice and bread, and canned fish (you’ll need to eat the soft bones).
If your baby is formula fed you pediatrician may recommend that you switch him to a soy-based formula. If this doesn’t solve the problem, special hypoallergenic formulas are available in which proteins are broken down to make them less likely to trigger an allergic reaction. Keep in mind that soy-based formula can have a high sugar content and ask your pediatrician to carefully monitor your baby’s weight gain. It’s likely you’ll be able to gradually reintroduce dairy to your child’s diet after he turns one.
Lactose intolerance
This is the inability to digest a sugar called lactose, that’s contained in milk and diary products. Lactose is broken down in the body by an enzyme called lactase but if you don’t produce enough of this enzyme your body can’t digest lactose and it remains in your digestive system, causing bloating, gas, stomach cramps and diarrhea.
Lactose intolerance is unusual in babies but your pediatrician may suggest restricting milk and dairy for a week or so to see if your baby’s symptoms clear up. In an older child, there are simple tests that can diagnose the condition.
Treatment
If your child does have lactose intolerance, you’ll need to cut right back on the amount of milk and dairy he consumes although he may be able to tolerate a small amount as long as he eats it with foods that are low in lactose. Lactose is found in less obvious foods, including some breakfast cereals, soups, salad dressings and deli meats. The law requires that milk in any form be listed on labels so get used to reading them – look out for whey, curds, milk byproducts, dry milk solids and nonfat dry milk powder.
Consult your pediatrician on how best to cut down on the amount of milk in your child’s diet and which dairy products are easiest to digest, so that your child can continue to benefit from the nutrients in dairy foods. Keep in mind too that certain cheeses and live yogurt are easier to digest than others, and your child may be able to manage these without developing any symptoms.
The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.
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Last Modified: 02/08/2007
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