I. What is an allergic reaction?
Simply put, an allergic reaction is a comprehensive process in which the body is stimulated by an allergen, triggering a complex series of autoimmune reactions in order to clear the allergen out of the body. Therefore, an allergic reaction necessarily involves the allergen and the autoimmune system as well as the corresponding clinical symptoms.
What is milk allergy?
It is an indisputable fact that food can cause allergies in humans, especially some high protein foods such as seafood. Milk allergy is an allergic reaction to milk (mainly certain proteins in milk such as α-S1 casein and β-lactoglobulin). The full English name is Cow milk allergy, abbreviated as CMA; some experts also call it CMPI, the abbreviation for Cow milk protein intolerance, which can be called milk protein intolerance in Chinese.
What are the allergens in milk that cause allergic reactions?
Certain proteins in milk such as α-S1 casein and β-lactoglobulin are currently recognized as allergens. Under normal circumstances, if these two proteins can be digested and absorbed by the body, they will not cause an allergic reaction (i.e., the allergens can be destroyed by the human digestive system). However, if the body’s digestive capacity is not sufficient, the two proteins may enter the body in undigested form, thus causing an allergic reaction.
IV. Who is prone to milk allergy?
Newborn infants and the elderly are the vulnerable groups. Older people do not easily digest large, long-chain proteins because their digestive capacity has decreased. Newborn infants and young children, on the other hand, have not yet developed their digestive and immune systems. Generally speaking, newborn infants and toddlers are most sensitive from 0-6 months. After two years of age, with improved digestion and enhanced immune function, most children are no longer allergic to milk.
V. Allergies and milk allergy
The mechanism of whether infants and children will develop allergy to milk is multifaceted. In addition to allergens and digestive and immune system factors, the health and diet of the mother during pregnancy/lactation, and whether the parents have a history of allergies are all relevant. Recent studies have shown that if one parent has allergies (or a history of allergies), there is a 33% chance that their offspring will be allergic, and if both parents are allergic, there is over a 70% chance that the offspring will be allergic! And allergic babies and children are likely to be allergic to milk.
Can allergies cause asthma in children?
Recent studies have shown that there is an extremely close link between allergies and childhood asthma. The survey report of the National Children’s Asthma Control Collaborative Group (China) points out that the main cause of asthma in children is respiratory tract infection, accounting for 94.6%, followed by various allergies. In the survey, 49.54% of the children had suffered from infant eczema and 43.17% of them had atopic dermatitis. In other words, if a baby has suffered from eczema and dermatitis in infancy, there is a great possibility that the baby will develop asthma later.
What is the incidence of pediatric milk allergy?
Milk allergy is more highly regarded in developed countries such as Europe and the United States, so it has been studied more than in other parts of the world. In the United States, the incidence rate for newborn infants (0-12 months) is 5-7%, and the situation in Europe is similar. Swedish researchers have also found that the incidence of milk allergy in hand-fed infants and children under 3 months of age can be 12-30%. In China, there are no official statistics available.
VIII. What are the symptoms of pediatric milk allergy?
Children with CMA will have one or more of the following symptoms (poor digestion and rashes and eczema are the most common).
1. Gastrointestinal: vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, colic, indigestion;
2, respiratory tract: asthma, rhinitis, bronchitis;
3, skin: rash, pityriasis (face, especially around, forehead, extremities, etc.);
4, systemic symptoms: irritability, migraine
In terms of pathophysiology, symptoms are mainly manifested in.
1, small intestine: irritability, abnormal weight gain, and foul-smelling stools.
2. In the colon: diarrhea, occult blood and mucus in the stool.
3. Accordingly, puncture and pathological sampling may reveal inflammatory symptoms such as erythrocytosis.
How to treat milk allergy in infants and children?
There are two ways to treat milk allergy in infants and children: cutting off the allergen (keeping children away from the allergen) and medication. Treatment can control the clinical symptoms of allergy for a short period of time, but after stopping the medication, if the baby continues to consume milk, the symptoms of allergy will reappear. This is why many mothers find that their babies’ rashes (eczema, ringworm) often recur. Moreover, the potential side effects of medication cannot be ignored, especially the adverse effects of repeated use of hormonal substances on children.
There are several ways to keep children from being exposed to allergens, the best of which is breastfeeding. Breastmilk is the best food for newborns, as it not only contains essential nutrients for children, but also immune substances to help improve the newborn’s resistance to disease. However, when a new mother cannot feed her baby herself for various reasons, other solutions are needed. The correct way to cut off the allergen is with free amino acid formula.
X. Can a child with milk allergy be solved by changing the brand of milk?
No. Because another brand of formula is still based on cow’s milk; including other animal milks, such as goat’s milk and horse’s milk where the allergens are still present. Soy milk or soy flour studies have found a 30% cross-allergic reaction, and phytoestrogens are not recommended for infants.