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Dairy Allergies

Dairy allergies occur when the immune system has an abnormal response to one of the proteins in milk products. It then produces an allergic antibody, called IgE. Dairy allergies are the most common food allergies found in infants and children, according to the Food Allergy Initiative. Most children will outgrow dairy allergies, but some have them into adulthood.

  1. Symptoms

    • Symptoms of a dairy allergy usually occur within minutes to up to four hours after eating dairy. They include tingling, itching or swelling of the mouth and lips, shortness of breath, hives, severe diarrhea or vomiting. A life-threatening reaction, called anaphylaxis, involves swelling of the airways and loss of consciousness.

    Diagnosis

    • If you suspect a dairy allergy, talk to your doctor. She may refer you to an allergist for allergy tests. There are two kinds of allergy tests. A blood test called the RAST tests the IgE antibodies in your blood after being exposed to milk protein. The skin prick test involves placing a small amount of the dairy protein under the skin by pricking or scratching the skin. This is usually done on your back or arm. The doctor then watches for a reaction on the skin called a wheal, which resembles a mosquito bite.

    Treatment

    • There is no cure for dairy allergies. Treatment involves avoiding food containing dairy. If you are highly allergic, your doctor will likely prescribe an epinephrine pen to carry with you at all times in case of accidental ingestion.

    Living with Food Allergies

    • Learn to read labels for dairy products in foods. Some ingredients to avoid are milk, butter, cheese, casein and whey. Luckily, there are a number of dairy substitutes available for cooking and baking. Try soy or rice milk for milk and a soy-based margarine for butter.

    Misconceptions

    • Often, dairy allergies are confused with lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance occurs when the body cannot digest lactose, the sugars found in milk, causing nausea, bloating, cramping and diarrhea. Lactose intolerance does not involve an immune system response.

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