Cow's Milk Protein Allergy

This is classified into 2 types:

• IgE mediated - Rapid reaction to cow’s milk within 2 hourrs of ingestion

• Non-IgE mediated – Slower reaction over several

This condition is more common in Formula-fed babies.

Presentation

• Become apparent when babies are weaned from breast to formula milk

• Abdominal pain

• Bloating and wind

• Diarrhoea and Vomiting

• General allergy symptoms – Urticarial rash, Angioedema, Cough/wheeze, Sneezing, Watering eyes

For a diagnosis, it's important to do a full history and examination.

Management

Avoiding cow’s milk should fully resolve the symptoms, but other things to do include:

• Breast feeding mothers should avoid dairy products

• Replace formula with special hydrolysed formulas designed for this allergy – The cow’s milk in this formula has its protein broken down so it doesn’t trigger an immune reaction