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| Milk Allergy |
What is Milk allergy?
Milk allergy is the most common allergy found in children. Children who are allergic to milk should avoid milk and all its products. Although milk allergy most commonly occurs in infants and children, it can occur in people of any age. It can also be caused by foods that were previously eaten without any problems. Milk allergy is basically a reaction to the protein found in milk. Your body's immune system gets affected by the milk proteins and triggers a variety of symptoms. Rashes, diarrhea, and abdominal pain can be symptoms of an allergy to milk.
Milk allergy and lactose intolerance are not the same. Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest lactose (which is found in many dairy products). The doctor will ask you about your or your child's medical history and the onset, duration, and intensity of symptoms. He may also do skin tests or blood tests to check for allergies. The primary treatment for milk allergy is to avoid consuming milk and milk products. In most children, milk allergies go away on their own with time. Children in whom this does not happen may need to avoid milk products. Milk allergy can also cause anaphylaxis – a severe and life-threatening reaction.
What are the symptoms of milk allergy?
Milk allergy symptoms differ from person to person. And they appear minutes or hours after drinking milk or eating milk products.
Symptoms of milk allergy can be the following:
.Swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat
.Cough or breathlessness
.Vomiting
.Hives
.May feel wheezing
.Itching or tingling sensation around the lips or mouth
Other symptoms that may occur are:
.Headache
.Feeling suffocated
.Swallowing problems
.Loose stools or diarrhea, which may contain blood
.Running nose
.Watery eyes
.Stomach cramps
Also Read: Tips to care a newborn baby
When to see a doctor?
See a doctor if you or your child develop symptoms of a milk allergy soon after drinking milk. If possible, see a doctor during an allergic reaction so that testing can help. Get immediate treatment if you or your child have symptoms of anaphylaxis.
Why is there an allergy to milk?
Food allergies are related to the body's immune system (which normally fights infection ). When someone is allergic to a particular food, the immune system reacts to the proteins in that food. Milk allergy, like all allergies, is caused by a malfunction of the body's immune system. This happens because the immune system perceives milk proteins as a threat, when in fact they are harmless. Although milk allergy occurs most commonly in infants and children, it can occur at any age. Milk allergy can occur in anyone who drinks powdered milk and in babies who are breastfed. Breastfed infants may be allergic to cow's milk proteins that pass through breast milk but are not allergic unless they drink cow's milk directly. Many babies are allergic to milk during childhood, but it gets better as they grow up.
What factors increase the risk of milk allergy?
.Age: It is common for children to be allergic to milk.
.Other allergies: Babies allergic to milk may also suffer from other allergies. Milk allergy is the first allergy.
.Eczema: Children who have eczema are more prone to food allergies.
.Family history: The risk of developing a milk allergy is higher if one of the parents has food allergies or other types of allergies such as hay fever, eczema, or asthma.
How to prevent milk allergy?
There is no way to prevent milk allergy as it is present from birth. Most people are allergic to milk only when they are babies and the allergy goes away on its own as they get older. There are only a few people who are allergic to milk even as adults. Milk allergy does not usually occur in adults. However, you can take the following precautions to prevent milk allergy:
1. Read food labels to see if they contain dairy ingredients.
2. If possible, talk to a nutritionist and try to understand which foods may contain milk. They'll also help you find milk-free alternatives that provide you with important nutrients like calcium, vitamin D, and protein that we typically get from milk.
3. Avoid consumption of milk-containing foods and ingredients such as
milk, curd, ghee, butter, buttermilk, paneer, cheese, cream, custard
4. Be careful when you eat at a hotel or restaurant. Tell your waiter you have a milk allergy and always ask about the ingredients of each item before ordering.
5. Eat outside food as little as possible, or don't eat at all. If possible, always take home-cooked food with you while going out.
What is the treatment for milk allergy?
Milk is a common ingredient in many foods, so it is very difficult to completely avoid dairy products. Suppose you ever accidentally eat milk-containing food and there is a reaction from it, then to avoid such a situation, the doctor may advise you to keep an epinephrine injection with you. You can also keep an antihistamine with you to avoid allergy symptoms.
Some natural remedies for milk allergy are:
1. Selenium and Vitamin E: They eliminate free radicals in our body as they act as antioxidants. To combat allergy symptoms, take 50 to 100 micrograms of vitamin E and selenium daily. These are very effective in treating milk allergy in adults.
2. Magnesium and calcium: These also help relieve allergy symptoms and calm the nervous system. They are also helpful for our immune system. You can get these from supplements or from natural sources like bananas, fresh vegetables, or eggs.
3. Carrot juice: Carrot juice along with pomegranate and beet juice have been used to treat the problem of milk allergy and other food allergies. They increase the body's tolerance towards milk. Mix these juices and drink in the morning.
4. Ginger: Ginger is known to have great health benefits and is also very effective in treating milk allergies.
5. Honey: Honey is used for many ailments including seasonal allergies. It can also be used to treat allergies to milk. Take one teaspoon of honey in the morning before breakfast.
6. Turmeric: This is one of the best home remedies for milk allergy. It has anti-inflammatory properties that relieve allergy symptoms. Eat turmeric food daily.
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