If your newborn baby is constantly crying, has troubled moments due to gas pain and cannot gain weight, you need to evaluate this situation. Because these symptoms, which can be seen in almost all babies, can sometimes be an indicator of milk allergy.
The most common food allergy in infancy is milk allergy, namely cow’s milk allergy. It is an allergic reaction of the body to proteins in cow milk (especially beta lactalbumin). It can be caused by the direct delivery of cow milk to the baby, as well as breast feeding. In addition, since most ready-made foods contain cow’s milk proteins, babies fed with formula may also experience allergies. Children with cow’s milk allergy may also develop cross-allergy against goat milk and soy milk. Attention should be paid to this issue when making nutritional advice to the baby and mother.
SYMPTOMS OF MILK ALLERGY
Symptoms vary depending on the baby and the severity of the allergy. Some babies have a single symptom, while others have more than one symptom. Clinical findings generally start in the first 6 months, but can sometimes occur at a later age. The main symptoms are:
- Excessive crying and severe gas pain in the first months
- Vomiting after feeding and therefore unable to weigh
- Bloody and slimy defecation and diaper constipation
- Red and itchy skin rashes in the form of eczema on the skin
- A constant wheezing, cough, nasal congestion
- Recurrent attacks of bronchitis and / or bronchiolitis.
Three methods are used in the diagnosis of milk allergy.
- Skin Test: It can be done at any age, reliability is 95%.
- Detection of Antibodies Specific to Cow’s Milk in Blood: 90% reliable.
- Elimination Method: Foods containing cow’s milk are not given to the baby for a while. During this time, the existing symptoms are expected to disappear. After the symptoms disappear, cow’s milk is tried again. The reappearance of symptoms will support cow’s milk allergy.
The most common food allergy in infancy is milk allergy, namely cow’s milk allergy. It is an allergic reaction of the body to proteins in cow’s milk.
HOW TO TREAT?
The main principle in treatment is to avoid the substance that causes allergies. In the baby fed with breast milk, treatment will be started by removing milk and milk products from the mother’s diet. It may also be necessary to administer medication to the baby until the allergy disappears, according to current clinical findings. In infants fed with food, foods that do not contain cow’s milk protein should be preferred.
INDIAN NUTS MILK INSTEAD OF COW MILK
In infants fed with breast milk, milk and dairy products consumed by the mother pass to the baby through breastfeeding and cause allergies. In this case, it is recommended to continue feeding with breast milk, but to completely remove milk and milk products from the mother’s diet. In order to protect the mother from calcium deficiency, medical support should be recommended and nutrition should be arranged in the presence of a dietician.
In babies with cow’s milk allergy, this group of products should also be removed from the mother’s diet, as soy protein and goat milk allergy may also be associated. Vegetable oils should be preferred over butter and margarine, cream, milk powder, milk biscuits, milk pasta should be avoided. Rice milk, oat milk and coconut milk can be used instead of cow’s milk.
NUTRITION WITH MOM MILK IS IMPORTANT IN PROTECTION
As with all diseases, prevention is very important in cow’s milk allergies. Nutrition with breast milk is essential in protection. While breast milk protects babies from allergic asthma, it also plays a protective role from food allergies and especially cow’s milk allergy.
Feeding babies only with breast milk for the first 6 months, introducing the baby with allergy from food, that is, cow milk as late as possible and not giving cow milk for the first 12-18 months will be the right approach in prevention.
AS THE BABY GROWS IT ADOPTS THE COW MILK
A baby with cow’s milk allergy is not given foods containing cow’s milk and cow’s milk-based food for 12-18 months; feeding with special foods is supported. At the end of this period, cow’s milk is started to be given again and it is observed whether the symptoms appear. The time to start to tolerate cow’s milk varies from baby to baby. In 56% of children, cow milk tolerance develops in 1 year and 77% in 3 years. In a baby with an allergy detection, the more we can absorb cow’s milk from the diet and the more we can protect the baby from this allergen, the faster the development and recovery process will be.