Causes and risk factors
As the name suggest the clinical presentation are seen due to consumption of milk in people who are sensitive to it. Milk contents almost 12 types of proteins. Any person who suffers from milk allergy might be sensitive to any of the components of milk. Incidences to the ‘casein’ are common.
The allergy can be of two types Antibody mediated or non antibody mediated allergy.
Antibody medicated allergy effects are seen is seen within an hour or so after consumption of milk. The reaction is of sudden onset. In non antibody mediated allergy adverse effects are seen after high consumption of milk only. As like all other allergies it is an autoimmune reaction of the body.
Clinical presentation:
A person who is allergic to milk can present with complaints of red eruptions (Urticaria) and itching of the body. Other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, pain in abdomen, flatulence, bloated feeling in abdomen and change in bowel movements like diarrhea or constipation can occur. The person can also come up with symptoms of respiratory affection like running of nose, running of eyes, cough, and wheezes. Headache is also a common complaint seen. Milk allergy in some patients can also lead to life threatening condition of anaphylaxis.
Investigations:
Usually the patient himself overtime can identify the allergy to milk .Diagnosis can be done on the basis of the symptoms narrated by the patients and the physical examination carried out by the doctor. The detail history taken from the patient will help the doctor to evaluate the cause. Routine blood test and allergy test can be recommended by the consultant.
Treatment:
As per doctors advised milk and milk products identified as a cause of allergy may be omitted from the diet. For relieving the discomfort anti allergic medications are advised. Anti histamines and steroids have found to be effective. In cases of anaphylaxis hospitalization and close monitoring is required.
Recent updates:
Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne scientists have developed a highly-sensitive method that can quickly and accurately identify the culprit proteins even at very low concentrations. The method has been successfully tested in the context of cow milk allergy.
