Toddler Milk Allergies

While only about 6 percent of toddlers have food allergies, according to BabyCenter, milk is one of the most common. The majority of milk allergies are to cow's milk, though reactions to breast milk, goat's milk, soy milk and other milk products are possible.

Milk Allergy vs. Lactose Intolerance

A milk allergy is not the same as lactose intolerance; the former is an immune system response, and the latter is a digestive problem.

Onset

The effects of a milk allergy can manifest anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours after milk consumption.

Symptoms

Signs of a milk allergy in a toddler can be mild to severe and can include coughing, stomach ache, wheezing, vomiting, diarrhea, eczema, hives, rash, runny nose, tearing eyes and bloody stool.

Causes

Allergies are malfunctions of the immune system. Milk allergies are the immune system's reaction to one of two proteins in the product, casein or whey.

Complications

Toddlers who are allergic to milk are at increased risk of having allergic reactions to other foods and to developing hay fever.

Testing and Treatment

A doctor can perform a skin or blood test to determine if your toddler has a milk allergy. There is no treatment, but reactions can be avoided by excluding the specific milk(s) a toddler is allergic to and replacing them with other products.

References

• BabyCenter: Food Allergies
• BabyCenter: Lactose Intolerance
• Mayo Clinic: Milk Allergy