It is a reaction of the body to a protein present in cow's milk, due to an exaggerated response of the baby's immune system which recognises it as foreign. It is one of the first adverse reactions we suffer, since after breast milk, it is the first food that the baby is fed.
It manifests as: hives, rash, itching, swelling (angiooedema), vomit, diarrhoea, reflux, malabsorption and weight loss.
The diagnosis is clinical based on medical questioning and family history. It is confirmed by skin test and blood or stool analysis.
In some cases, a milk exposure test is performed to check if it is the actual cause of the health problem. The treatment is based on the elimination of cow's milk, replacing it by breastfeeding or other milks without the protein.
It is advisable to delay supplementary feeding until the 6th month and avoid some food allergens (eggs, fish) until the child is one year old. The paediatrician and/or allergist will be responsible for providing the guidelines to follow regarding the baby's diet.
- E. Escribano, J. M. Sarria. Manual de Diagnóstico y Terapéutica en Pediatría. Reacciones adversas a proteínas de leche de vaca. Publimed. Quinta edición. 889-894.
- A. M. Plaza. Alergia a proteínas de leche de vaca. Protoc diagn ter pediatr 2013;(1):51-61.
- UpToDate [Internet]. Waltham. 2017. Milk allergy: Clinical features and diagnosis; [citado el 12 de julio de 2017]. Disponible en: http://www.uptodate.com/contents/milk-allergy-clinical-features-and-diagnosis?source=search_result&search=alergia+proteina+vaca&selectedTitle=1~150
- AEP [Internet]. Madrid. 2017. Alergia a la leche y anafilaxia; [citado el 18 de julio de 2017]. Disponible en: http://enfamilia.aeped.es/temas-salud/alergia-leche-anafilaxia
