Milk Protein Intolerance

Do you experience unpleasant symptoms on consuming milk or milk products. Does your baby cry, show symptoms of irritation when fed with milk? In both these cases, there are chances that you, or the baby, must be suffering from milk protein intolerance. What is it all about? Can the condition be treated? Let us find answers to these questions.

Milk Intolerance

Sometimes, when people consume certain types of foodstuffs, the immune system reacts to these food particles which cause negative reactions in the body. These conditions are known as food intolerance or food allergies. Milk intolerance is one such condition caused when a person is intolerant to the protein found in milk, i.e., casein and whey. This condition is usually found in babies and infants, as they are unable digest the proteins found in milk. Consuming soy milk or cow / goat milk based infant formula can also result in intolerance symptoms. In most of the cases, it is found that milk allergy in toddlers goes away when the children grow up. The exact cause of this condition is not known, however, genetics is regarded as one of its causes.

Signs and Symptoms

As milk allergy symptoms are similar to that of lactose allergy or intolerance; the two conditions are often confused with each other. It should be noted that milk allergy is caused due to intolerance to the protein present in the milk whereas lactose intolerance is caused due to intolerance to the sugar (lactose) present in milk.

• Skin irritation
• Disorders of the stomach
• Respiratory reactions
• Asthma
• Weight loss
• Chronic congestion
• Chest tightness
• Asthma
• Stuffy head
• Runny nose
• Vomiting
• Hives
• Swelling
• Irritability
• Problems in breathing

Infant milk allergy symptoms also include irritability, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, cramping in abdomen, stomach ache, loose stools, etc. Sinus congestion, stuffy nose and headache are also some of the symptoms observed in case of infants.

Treatment

As mentioned above, babies and infants showing signs of milk allergy get over it by the time they grow up. However, it should be noted that if the child does not get over the symptoms after the age of 3-4 years, then he may suffer from the condition forever. If one observes any of these symptoms, he should consult a doctor for proper diagnosis of the condition. The doctor will prescribe medications to get rid of all the symptoms. These medications can be obtained over-the-counter, or with prescription. On the other hand, one of the best methods of treatment and prevention is to follow the milk allergy diet. When suffering from milk protein intolerance, one should exclude all milk and milk products from the diet. Similarly, milk based products or those containing casein or whey should not be consumed. This way, it is possible to bring the condition under control and also prevent it from recurring.

Lastly, remember, although this is not a life-threatening condition, it is essential to take preventive measures to prevent the condition from becoming hazardous or severe. Take care!