Nowadays infants and toddlers, with their percentage ranging amid two to seven, are seen to be affected by an allergy caused by cow’s milk. These children don’t react well to the proteins present in the milk and it can be very difficult to know for real if the child is allergic as this problem’s reactions can be immediate or delayed. Fortunately, with following safe and easy ways, one can judge if their child has any milk allergies

• Prepare a dairy diary to keep the record of what milk items the toddler drinks and eats and how the child reacts to them. The reactions could range from rashes on skin, constipation, watery eyes, gas, stuffy nose, blood or mucus in the child’s stool or even diarrhea.

• Reactions of milk allergies can be passed down in the family also. So it’s better to make a record of the history of the child’s relatives and see if they have or ever had any reactions after taking milk products. Their symptoms can be asthma, bed-wetting and even hyperactivity.

• There is a home test to see if the child is allergic to milk products or not. The toddler should not be given any milk products for six to seven days. Then after a week, on an empty stomach, provide them with dairy items. The reactions caused due to milk products would show up, if the child has the allergy, within an hour. If the reactions are delayed, they can be ear infection, bed-wetting or asthma.

• One can also go to an allergist and can check if their infant has a dairy allergy with the help of a blood test or skin prick exam.

• If the child shows signs of milk allergy, then feeding them any sort of dairy items should be stopped immediately. Children who are being breast-fed can also get this allergy. To prevent this, the mothers should avoid any dairy products in their diet.

Many of the children when they reach an age of three grow out of this problem, but they are also seen to develop other allergies.

Also Read:

• Allergies from Food Dyes : Types, Causes and symptoms
• Allergic Asthma can Make Flu Worse
• DIAPER RASHES: Home cures and remedies
• How plants can help in reducing indoor allergy
• Side effects of Antibiotics

by dr.Kranthi on 14. Jan, 2010 in Children's Health, General Health