Signs & Symptoms of Dairy Allergies

An allergic reaction is the body mistaking a certain substance as a harmful intruder to the immune system. People who are allergic to dairy products have to deal with the discomfort and inconvenience of avoiding all foods and beverages containing dairy or dairy by-products.

Facts

• The immune system of an individual with a milk allergy recognizes dairy as a harmful substance. The body fights the intruder by releasing antibodies and histamine causing reactions throughout the body.

Signs

• The most common sign of a dairy allergy is that whenever you ingest a dairy product you experience adverse reactions.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of a diary allergy are headaches, excessive sneezing, hives, swollen tongue and lips and digestive issues. Some experience immediate nasal congestion and sinus pressure which can lead to ear aches and neck pain.

Treatment

• Treating someone with a milk allergy is simple. A typical over-the-counter antihistamine should relieve an individual of any reaction within 15 minutes. The recommended antihistamine is diphenhydramine or Benadryl.

Complications

• Someone with a severe allergy to dairy products can experience anaphylactic shock. Anaphylactic shock is when a person's body is overwhelmed with the allergic reaction and shuts down by shortness of breath and fainting. Call 9-1-1 if this transpires.