Children in the first year of life are often susceptible negative influence external and internal stimuli, which leads to the development various pathologies. A baby may also experience a reaction such as a milk allergy. This manifests itself different signs and changes, but in any case requires close attention from parents and pediatricians.

What determines the development of milk allergy?

An allergy to milk in a newborn appears regardless of whether he is fed naturally or artificially. However, it is noted that in babies fed on mother’s milk, such a disease occurs several times less often than in artificially fed babies. According to statistics, an allergy to products containing milk occurs in an average of 5% of cases in infants.

Any allergy is a specific reaction of the body that develops when products with a foreign protein enter the body. 25 such antigen proteins have been identified in cow's milk, the most active of which are casein, beta-lactoglobulin, albumin, and alpha-lactoglobulin.

Once in the immature stomach of the infant, the protein chain of amino acids must break down into individual elements, which are then easily absorbed by the body. A newborn may lack enzymes due to the immaturity of the digestive tract. Then the chain of amino acids does not break down as it should. Such structures cannot be completely absorbed by the intestinal mucosa, and the immune system perceives them as foreign proteins and accordingly triggers a specific reaction, which is expressed by signs of allergy.

The developing reaction into cow's milk intolerance can be divided into two types.

1. A true allergy occurs even with small amounts of milk. The cause of this pathology is considered to be the immaturity of the enzymatic system.
2. Pseudo-allergy manifests itself in a baby when he has drunk too much milk or formula based on it for his age. arise various disorders due to the fact that the digestive system cannot immediately cope with processing and absorption large quantity dairy product

Allergy from cow's milk in young children occurs in two cases.

1. When a breastfeeding mother ate a cow's milk product
2. When using mixtures that use milk as a base. Agusha mixture can also cause allergies, since it is also prepared on the basis of milk

For digestive system In the first months of life, any food other than mother's milk is a serious test for a baby. The mucous layers of the stomach and other digestive organs are not yet mature and their structure is easily accessible to allergen proteins. This functional feature and creates various preconditions against which allergic reactions manifest themselves.

The risk of developing allergies to food and other external irritants increases several times if the following provoking factors are present.

1. The child's parents are prone to allergic reactions different types
2. While carrying the baby, the mother worked in hazardous industries or was forced to live in a region with unfavorable environmental conditions.
3. Negative effects of pregnancy pathology - gestosis, fetal hypoxia, infectious diseases

Most young patients are allergic to cow's milk, Agusha formula and others artificial nutrition It is observed with pronounced symptoms during the first year of life and by about three years it begins to gradually disappear. But this does not mean that the baby does not need treatment.

Developing milk allergy in children negatively affects the condition internal organs, changes the structure of skin cells and can become the main cause of chronic atopic dermatitis. An intolerance reaction without treatment is not in the best possible way affects the condition immune system and bronchi. All this can end in the baby bronchial asthma. That is why it is so important to pay attention to the signs of allergies in a timely manner, identify the allergen, undergo treatment and prevent the recurrence of the pathology.

How to determine a milk allergy

Allergens that appear in the body as a specific response circulate in the blood for some time and therefore can change the functioning of any organ. Allergy to cow's milk components affects different organs and system, it can be suspected based on several developing signs.

Jobs change gastrointestinal tract. In infants, this is primarily expressed by the appearance of loose stools. Feces may contain small lumps of undigested food and remains of curdled milk. Vomiting and frequent regurgitation are also signs of allergies. The lack of proper breakdown of food also affects the appearance of pain and colic in the baby. The little ones are restless, capricious, and have trouble sleeping. The release of histamine during allergies also affects the increase in the amount hydrochloric acid in the stomach, and this leads to pain in the epigastric region. Long-term allergies negatively affect the microflora, causing dysbacteriosis.

Skin damage. With an allergy to cow's milk, the structure of the skin changes greatly.

• Parents can pay attention to the appearance of a milk scab - a crust yellowish color on the baby's head
• The second change is considered to be eczema; it first appears in the form of blisters on the cheeks, which gradually open up and in their place remains erosion with a clear discharge. Gradually, the erosion dries out and scales and crusts remain in its place.
• An allergy to cow's milk also manifests itself as atopic dermatitis - rashes and plaques appear under the knees, in the elbow cavities, and on the baby's buttocks. Skin rashes may be accompanied by itching, which negatively affects the baby’s well-being - the baby is capricious and cries.

From the outside respiratory organs An allergic reaction to milk is manifested in an infant by sneezing, nasal congestion, and difficulty breathing.

The most severe reaction of intolerance to various allergens is considered to be Quincke's edema; it appears in a child quite quickly. Signs of edema include severe swelling of the skin of the face and lips, difficulty breathing and suffocation may occur.

Dairy products more often cause an intolerance reaction in a child when he is sick with somatic and infectious diseases.

Naturally, the allergy symptoms listed above are not always reliable signs intolerance to cow's milk. To accurately determine the cause of the changes that appear, you need to consult a doctor and undergo an examination. It is not always necessary to immediately exclude dairy products; on the contrary, this can lead to changes in microflora, which will also negatively affect general health crumbs. It is possible to reliably find out what caused the signs of intolerance - the introduction of new complementary foods, mother's milk or other food products - only after special diagnostic tests.

Treatment of cow's milk allergy

Look short video, in which an allergist talks about the nutrition of a baby prone to cow's milk allergy

If an allergic reaction occurs in an artificial baby, then it is necessary to change the type of formula. Most infant formulas are prepared on the basis of milk, and therefore the doctor should recommend a diet that does not contain this product.

Hydrolytic mixtures are mainly used, in which proteins are broken down in a special way, which increases their digestibility by the child’s body. The mixtures used are “Frisopep”, “Pepticate”, “Nutrilakpeptidi SCT”, “Alfare”, “NutrilonPepti TSC”.

For children of the first year of life with a milk allergy, you need to prepare porridge correctly. They are boiled only in water, and the early introduction of adult products is also excluded.

To eliminate skin manifestations and for fast healing For various irritations, it is necessary to use baby ointments with anti-inflammatory properties. It has also been proven that increasing the functioning of the immune system has a positive effect on the overall well-being of the baby, preventing the development of various allergic reactions. But anyway drug treatment should be prescribed by a pediatrician or allergist after an accurate diagnosis has been established.

Milk- This is a fairly nutritious product for the body that contains fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and calcium. But there are times when a drink has harmful influence on the child's body.

According to statistics, the number of children under 1 year of age

About 10% suffer from allergies to dairy products.

Allergy is an atypical response to the appearance of a foreign antigen protein in the body. Cow's milk contains 25 such antigens. Among them, the most active in terms of their effect on the body are casein, alpha-lactoglobulin, serum albumin, and beta-lactoglobulin.

The structure of a protein resembles a chain in which the links are amino acids. When it enters the stomach and intestines, the influence of enzymes destroys the chain, and it breaks up into separate parts, which are separately absorbed by the body without problems.

The immature digestive system of young children may lack some enzymes, so when the protein chain is broken down, the destruction does not affect separate groups links The resulting complex of links cannot be normally absorbed by the intestines and provokes a response from the body’s immune system, which manifests itself as an allergy.

Pseudoallergy to milk - the body has a sufficient set of enzymes to break down the protein structure, but the amount of milk drunk is so large that the body cannot cope with it immediately. Excessive amounts of protein from a product in a normally functioning body also leads to the development of allergies. In this case, the allergy appears not because of the nature of the product, but because of its quantity.

A true allergy to dairy products develops even with a small amount of milk drunk (and even receiving cow's milk protein through breast milk), but through an immature enzymatic system the body cannot cope with the protein load.

There are allergies to the protein contained in cow's milk and milk protein intolerance. Intolerance is the occurrence of difficulties with the digestion of milk, the immune system is not involved in this process, and an allergy is the response of the body's immune system to a foreign protein.

Causes of milk allergy

Some sources see the cause of allergies as an inadequate reaction of the human immune system to milk protein, while others consider lactose (milk sugar) to be the cause. In this case, both will be right, since an allergic reaction when consuming dairy products can be triggered by both lactose and milk protein.

Real photos of allergies to protein and milk in children

The newborn’s body can only accept mother’s milk without stress; any mixture is roughage for the baby’s intestines. The mucous membrane of the digestive system of infants is not mature, not protected by the inherent microflora, and is friable and therefore easily accessible to allergens. The walls of the child’s intestines and stomach acquire the ability to prevent the introduction of pathogenic agents only by the age of 2 years. In cases where:

The child's mother is prone to developing allergic reactions;

There was a pathological course of pregnancy - gestosis, threat of miscarriage, fetal hypoxia, stress;

Pregnancy was burdened with unfavorable environmental conditions - working in hazardous industries, living in a metropolis or industrial city.

The risk of an allergic reaction in a child increases. That's why important factors to reduce the risk of allergies are: the course of pregnancy, the age and health of the mother, the presence of bad habits in parents, lifestyle, nutrition, ecology, heredity.

Manifestation of milk allergy

Considering that the allergen constantly circulates in the blood, an allergic reaction can affect any system and organ of the body. Allergy to cow's milk protein can be aggravated by poor environmental conditions, severe infectious diseases, colds, stress.

Gastrointestinal disorders

For children under 1 year characteristic feature will loose stool caused by the fact that the digestive organs cannot cope with their responsibilities:

curdled milk and undigested food residues will be contained in the stool;

for children early age The appearance of frequent and profuse regurgitation is characteristic; in slightly older babies - vomiting.

The immune system uses antibodies to attack milk proteins, and along with the antigens, the intestinal mucosa is damaged.

Therefore, feces may contain red blood cells, which are visible to the naked eye as blood streaks or separately during a special analysis. Such signs indicate a severe allergy.

Damage to the intestinal mucosa is accompanied by abdominal pain, so young children become capricious, restless, and cry a lot. This condition must be differentiated from colic. It is worth noting that a reaction can only occur if a fermented milk mixture based on cow's milk or cow's milk itself enters the body. Breast milk cannot cause an allergic reaction (only in in rare cases), but the foods that make up the mother’s diet can.

With constant intake of milk by children over 1 year old, the pain turns into chronic stage. It is localized near the navel and is short-term in nature. Symptoms of colitis, intestinal motility disorders, and intestinal colic may also be observed.

Any allergic reaction of the body is accompanied by the release of histamine, which leads to an increase in the amount of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. This explains the child’s pain in the epigastric region.

Not passing and existing long time allergy to milk, can cause in a child secondary failure enzymes. The production of pancreatic enzymes decreases, the absorption of cereal gluten and lactose worsens.

The number of bifidobacteria characteristic of the intestines decreases, and in their place pathogenic microbes multiply: enterococci, E. coli. This development of events has an adverse effect on the health and well-being of the child.

Skin lesions

The skin is the second organ that suffers greatly during and food allergies. The most common symptoms of cow's milk allergy are:

• Milk scab

This is the first signal that a malfunction has occurred in the child’s body. Most often, milk scab occurs in infants who are bottle-fed. Such a symptom may also appear in a baby, but the cause of such a symptom will not be cow’s milk protein, but a product that is included in the mother’s diet. Gneiss, also known as milk scab, appears on a child’s head in the form of a crust. This crust should be greased vegetable oil or Vaseline, and after softening, comb out with a comb.

• Childhood eczema

In most cases it appears on the cheeks, but can affect any part of the baby’s body. Bubbles first develop and become eroded, producing clear fluid (exudate). Subsequently, the wounds begin to heal and turn into crusts and scales. The symptom appears in children under 6 months of age.

• Limited atopic dermatitis

The symptom appears on the elbows and under the knees in the form of plaques that are covered with scales. The rash is very itchy and may occasionally become wet.

This is one of the acute allergic reactions of the body caused by the intake of a dairy product. The manifestation of the symptom is characterized by the appearance of edema in areas with developed subcutaneous tissue– genitals, eyelids, lips, oral mucosa, while there is no itching of the skin. The appearance of Quincke's edema on the mucous membrane of the larynx can lead to asphyxia, that is, suffocation of the child. This condition is considered an emergency and requires emergency care and administration of corticosteroid drugs.

• Hives

Another type of acute allergic reaction of the body to dairy products, however, it is less common and has less dangerous consequences than Quincke's edema. A characteristic sign of urticaria is blisters with redness around them, which in their shape resemble a nettle burn (hence the name), while they are very itchy and itchy. When such a reaction develops, it is necessary mandatory application antihistamines.

Respiratory system damage

It occurs infrequently and is manifested by the reaction of the respiratory system:

Allergic rhinitis, sneezing;

Difficulty breathing and the occurrence of wheezing, threatening the development of laryngospasm. This serious condition, which consists of swelling of the laryngeal ligaments. In this case, there is no way to inhale, and the child may suffocate.

Bronchial asthma - one of the triggers for the development of the disease is an allergy to the protein contained in cow's milk.

Steps to take to determine if you have a milk allergy

The doctor collects anamnesis– presence of atopic dermatitis, anemia, chronic diarrhea, allergic manifestations, poor weight gain.

Laboratory tests– to exclude other diseases and allergies to other food products from allergies to cow’s milk protein and milk intolerance, the doctor will write a referral for tests: blood for allergens, skin prick test, stool test for dysbacteriosis, coprograms.

Symptoms of lactase deficiency can be very similar to the symptoms of a milk protein allergy: diarrhea, regurgitation, bloating, colic. The child has foamy, watery stools, in some cases green in color, more than 8-10 times a day. There is also a combination of these two pathologies.

In case of lactase deficiency, it is the lack of the enzyme, lactase, that causes the development of these symptoms. The function of the enzyme involves the breakdown of the disaccharide lactose into simple carbohydrates, which are absorbed in the intestine. If there is a deficiency of the enzyme, unsplit lactase begins to accumulate in the intestines and leads to an influx of fluid and an increase in osmotic pressure in it. Thus, flatulence and diarrhea, as well as other symptoms, appear.

Test for lactase deficiency

In order to differentiate lactase deficiency from an allergic reaction to cow protein, requires simple test which consists of following a lactose-free diet for several days:

• when artificially feeding, the child is transferred to a lactose-free formula;
• if a mother feeds her baby with breast milk, she should follow a lactose-free diet;
• if the child is older, they stop giving him dairy products and milk.

If the symptoms disappear in the near future, this confirms that the child has lactose deficiency. The fact is that if you have a protein allergy, this time will not be enough for the symptoms to disappear.

In addition, allergies to cow's milk protein are more common in children and in most cases disappear by the age of three. In turn, lactase deficiency occurs not only from birth, but also acquired. In such cases, it occurs against the background suffered by a child rotavirus infection or intestinal giardiasis. In such cases, lactase deficiency is eliminated by diet.

Algorithm of action for milk allergy in infants

The ideal food for a child is mother's milk. It contains unique enzymes that, when entering the baby’s body, are activated in the stomach and help to easily digest and absorb food. Therefore, pediatricians recommend trying to feed your baby breast milk for as long as possible, while following a hypoallergenic diet.

All products containing milk itself and its traces should be excluded: dry cream and powdered milk, store baked goods, butter, dry soups, chocolate, ice cream, condensed milk, cream.

If a breastfed baby shows signs of an allergy to milk, it is necessary to change the diet of the nursing mother. Various sources allow the mother to consume from 100 ml to 400 ml of milk per day, however, if the child is allergic to milk, milk should be completely excluded; if the allergy is not pronounced, you can try replacing milk with cottage cheese, yogurt, fermented baked milk, kefir. The child's condition should improve in 2-4 weeks; if this does not happen and there is 100% confirmation of an allergy to milk, the child should be switched to a formula with deep protein hydrolysis.

If you are allergic to cow's milk, your baby may also have an allergic reaction to goat's milk protein. In the case of a severe allergy to milk protein in a baby, nuts, fish, and eggs should also be excluded from the nursing mother’s diet.

If a child has milk intolerance, this is not an excuse to exclude fermented milk products from his diet. Feeding a child with fermented milk products must be introduced carefully from 7 one month old, it’s better to start with yogurt homemade(from cow's or goat's milk) or kefir. From 9-10 months you can start introducing cottage cheese into complementary foods, from 1 year - fish and eggs.

Fermented milk products should not provoke an allergic reaction because during processing they undergo hydrolysis; fermentation causes milk protein to break down into amino acids, which are better absorbed by the body and contain a minimal concentration of the allergen.

If your child has milk intolerance, fermented milk products should not provoke urticaria, bloating, or gastrointestinal disorders. But these products must be used with caution.

Cottage cheese for a child at home

A child can only use store-bought cottage cheese if it is marked “for children”, but such a product can also cause allergies (due to the presence of additives), so the ideal solution would be to prepare cottage cheese on our own. To do this, add 1 tablespoon of sour cream to a glass of milk and let the mixture brew at room temperature, after which the sour milk must be poured into a saucepan and heated over low heat until the whey separates. After this, the resulting curd is collected and squeezed out using gauze to separate excess liquid. The result is a ready-to-eat product that needs to be stored in the refrigerator for no more than one day.

Algorithm of action for an allergy to milk in an artificial child

Modern mixtures for artificial feeding are produced on the basis of cow's milk, so the first step is to change the mixture to an analogue, which is made on the basis of goat's milk; if that does not help, the mixture is changed to hydrolyzate. After 6 months, you can try switching to a regular formula; if symptoms begin to return, you should return to the hydrolyzed formula and shift the introduction of complementary foods with dairy products by six months.

The mixtures “Kozochka” and “Nanny” are made on the basis of goat milk. They are much better tolerated by children, but are more expensive, and do not forget that an allergic reaction to goat milk protein is also possible.

Hydrolyzed mixtures are easily absorbed by the child's body and in most cases do not contain lactose. Proteins in this diet are broken down into dipeptides.

On Russian market such mixtures are represented by “NutrilonPepti TSC”, “Nutrilak Peptidi SCT”, “Pregestimil”, “Alfare”, “Frisopep”, “Pepticate”, “Frisopep AS”. Foreign analogues are used in severe cases of allergy to cow’s milk protein, these are: Critacare", "Vital", "Vivonex".

To prevent allergies in a child with increased risk for its occurrence, mixtures with partial protein hydrolysis are used: “NAN hypoallergenic 1 and hypoallergenic 2”, “Nutrilonghypoallergenic 1 and hypoallergenic 2”.

For milk intolerance, as well as for the prevention of allergies: “Humana GA1 and GA2”, “Nutrilak GA”, Hipp GA1 and GA2.”

Allergy to milk in children over one year old

With the final formation of the enzymatic and immune systems, the manifestation of allergies stops. If the rash or other allergic reactions do not go away completely, you should completely avoid drinking milk. If necessary, milk can be replaced with a plant-based analogue:

Rice milk– to obtain such milk, you need to grind cooked rice in a blender and then filter the resulting mass.

Oat milk– is a rich source of vitamins and minerals. The oats are washed directly in the husk, filled with water, and then simmered over low heat for more than an hour. The resulting product is filtered.

Soy milk– a product rich in minerals and proteins, which is obtained from soybeans. To prepare such milk at home, you need to soak the beans, then boil them, grind them to a puree consistency and strain.

If you follow a lactase-free diet, these products will help diversify your child's diet. You can try switching older children to goat milk products.

Forecast

Every year the number of children suffering from allergies increases. Modern diagnostic capabilities make it possible to more accurately and easily determine the cause of allergies than ten years ago. Knowing the exact cause of the allergy, it is easier to fight it. According to statistics, about 40-50% of children cope with allergies in the first year of life, and 80-90% recover by the age of 5, and only in rare cases do allergies persist for life. In such cases, fermented milk products can replace milk.

Recently, American scientists conducted an experiment in which children with allergies increased the amount of milk consumed every day; this led to a decrease in the manifestations of allergies on the skin over time, and the immune system began to react less actively to the allergen.

The result of the experiment confirmed the theory that drinking milk trains the child’s immunity, allowing him to ultimately cope with allergies on his own. Our medicine does not yet support this point of view.

What will Dr. Komarovsky say about this problem? Watch the video

Young children, due to their incompletely developed immune system, are very often susceptible to various allergic reactions. An allergic reaction to cow protein in an infant is the most common hyperreaction among babies. Most often, this reaction occurs from cow's milk.

It is worth distinguishing between an allergy to cow protein and its intolerance. Allergy is inclusion defensive reaction immunity to substances that the body considers foreign. And intolerance to cow protein is due to a lack of enzymes that are necessary for its digestion.

Causes of allergies to cow protein

Like babies who feed mother's milk, can get allergic to cow protein? Yes, very simple. The fact is that all the elements found in products consumed by nursing mothers are, in one way or another, transmitted to the baby through mother’s milk. Thus, an allergy to cow's milk protein may occur in a child if it is present in the mother's diet.

However, you should not immediately switch your child to artificial formula, because children fed in this way are most susceptible to allergic reactions. The optimal solution will exclude from the mother's diet all products containing cow protein (milk, beef, and a taboo will have to be placed on dairy products made from beef).

Symptoms of an allergic reaction

Symptoms caused by cow protein, can be very diverse and can affect such organ systems as:

• Leather ( skin rashes, eczema, itching);

• Gastrointestinal tract (frequent regurgitation, colic, diarrhea, loss of appetite);

• Respiratory tract ( wheezing, cough).

You can also notice allergy symptoms by general condition child: frequent crying, restless sleep, irritability, and so on. Usually, signs of an allergy appear immediately, but there may also be cases when a certain period of time passes, for example, itchy skin may appear in 3-5 days.

Signs of cow protein intolerance:

• Vomit;
• Stomach ache;
• Diarrhea;
• Bloating, frequent gas.

Now, knowing how an allergy to cow protein manifests itself, you can easily distinguish it from intolerance. If you doubt the correctness of the answer, you should consult your doctor.

How can a doctor determine (diagnose) the presence of an allergy to cow protein in an infant?

If a cow protein allergy is diagnosed, the doctor will need to know the child's symptoms, medical history, whether the child is susceptible to food allergies, and pediatrician will have to be carried out medical examination and diagnostic tests.

Preparing for a doctor's appointment

In order for the doctor to be able to determine the most accurate diagnosis and prescribe the correct course of treatment, he will need not only his own knowledge, but also yours:

• First, you must prepare the information allergic diseases from close relatives.
• Secondly, provide a doctor accurate description the first manifestations of allergies and the further development of symptoms. Including voicing an exact list of symptoms.
• Talk about what you ate a few hours before breastfeeding your baby.
• You can also prepare a list of questions that concern you most.

What procedures will the doctor perform for diagnosis?

To identify an allergic reaction in newborns, the attending physician may perform the following procedures:

• blood test (more suitable for checking symptoms that appear immediately);
• skin tests (this option is the most acceptable, since the test results will not take long to arrive);
• a special diagnostic diet is possible.

The type of diagnostic procedure chosen will depend on the type of potential allergy.

In cases where allergy symptoms appear several hours or days after eating a particular food, which complicates the diagnosis, the doctor may prescribe special diet– elimination.

What should a child eat to get rid of allergy symptoms?

Symptoms of an allergic reaction to cow's milk protein can be eliminated if you follow proper diet baby nutrition. The first step is to exclude cow protein from his diet. Protein cannot be completely excluded from a child’s diet, because it is what contributes to the child’s growth and development. But you can replace milk protein with a food analogue that is equivalent in its properties to protein.

Amino acid based mixtures

Such mixtures are considered hypoallergenic and can provide proper nutrition for allergic reactions to milk and other foods. By giving your child the prescribed amount of formula, you can rest assured that he will receive everything he needs for development and growth. nutrients. Suitable for any form of allergy.

Mixtures based on highly hydrolyzed proteins

They, unlike amino acid-based mixtures, contain small protein fragments. However, these mixtures are characterized by a specific smell and bitter taste, which may cause your child to refuse to consume this product.

Highly hydrolyzed formulas are suitable for mild to moderate cases of cow protein allergy.

Mixtures based on are effective in mild case and medium-light ABCM, but have a bitter taste and a specific smell, which in some cases can cause the child to refuse to eat.

Nutrition for a nursing mother

As mentioned above, cow's milk protein and other elements reach the baby through mother's milk.

Therefore, if your child is allergic to cow protein, then you will have to exclude cow's milk, as well as all dairy products based on it, from your diet. It is also worth considering that this component is used in many products that at first glance have nothing to do with milk, so when purchasing products, carefully study the labels and composition of each.

Before starting such a diet, you should definitely consult with a nutritionist so as not to aggravate your child’s condition or spoil your own. In cases where such a diet does not help get rid of allergy symptoms or has a negative effect on your body, the doctor may transfer the child to special hypoallergenic mixtures, which we discussed above.

Do allergies go away in babies?

This question is very important for every mother. And answering this question, we can say with confidence that in most cases, an allergic reaction to cow's milk protein goes away with age. Only a few children remain overly sensitive to this element of food in the future.

It is impossible to accurately determine how long it will take for a child to stop being allergic to cow protein: each case is unique and requires separate consideration.

Visit your healthcare provider regularly to be tested for cow protein allergies.

It is important to know: to prevent a child from developing an allergy to cow's milk protein when starting complementary feeding, doctors advise diluting the milk with water, gradually increasing its fat content.

An allergic reaction is an inadequate response of the immune system to food product, chemical compound or microorganism. In children of the first year of life, such a rejection reaction most often occurs to cow's milk. It contains about 25 proteins, each of which can act as an allergen. The most active in this regard are casein, albumin, alpha and beta lactoglobulins. At preventive examinations Infants, symptoms of allergy to cow's milk protein are found in every fifth of them.

First of all, it is necessary to distinguish milk protein allergy (MPA) from pseudo-allergy and intolerance to milk proteins, although there are cases of a combination of these diseases.

True allergy, or allergic diathesis, is a reaction to the introduction of a foreign protein-antigen into the body; it develops when any, even the smallest, amount of it is received.

In the case of a pseudo-allergy, it is not the nature of the product itself that causes the reaction, but its excess quantity. That is, if a child drinks too much milk, his digestion may not cope with the load, and the immune system will respond by producing antibodies.

If you are intolerant to milk proteins, they are simply not digested and pass through the stomach and intestines in transit. The most common cause of intolerance is immaturity of the enzymatic system or lactase deficiency. IN infancy the body does not yet produce required quantity an enzyme that decomposes proteins into simpler sugars, and the proteins themselves are not able to be absorbed through the intestinal walls.

Allergy symptoms

The first symptoms of ABCM appear several weeks after the allergen, milk protein, enters the body. The most characteristic symptom of the disease is atopic dermatitis. This inflammatory lesion The skin is manifested by itching, redness, dryness, peeling, and flaking, which are often mistaken for prickly heat. Typical localization of rashes is the face, elbow bends and popliteal fossae, with advanced disease the rash spreads to the torso and scalp heads.

As symptoms worsen, blisters appear on the skin filled with clear liquid. When they open, they form weeping wounds, which then heal, leaving itchy crusts. With diathesis caused by a reaction to milk proteins, a scaly crust - a milk scab (gneiss) - forms on the baby's head, even with the most careful care.

Symptoms of an allergy to cow's milk protein in an infant may also include:

• swelling of the face;
• swelling of the mucous membranes of the mouth and nose, resulting in rhinitis, cough, difficulty breathing;
• intestinal colic;
• frequent and profuse regurgitation, vomiting;
• loose stools with remains of curdled milk;
• poor weight gain;
• for severe allergies feces streaks of blood may be detected because when milk proteins are attacked by antibodies, the intestinal mucosa is also damaged.

Important! A rare, but most dangerous consequence of an allergic reaction for a child is anaphylaxis. Literally within a few minutes, the child’s skin turns pale, his face swells, and breathing becomes difficult due to spasm of the muscles of the larynx. This condition is life-threatening and requires emergency medical attention.

Diagnostics

The first stage of diagnosis is to assess the manifestations of allergy to cow's milk protein, whether the child has concomitant diseases, cases allergic diseases from the closest relatives. A preliminary diagnosis can be made by excluding cow's milk from the baby's diet, and if he is breastfed, then from the mother's diet. In the case of an allergy to milk protein, its manifestations should then disappear or decrease.


After collecting an anamnesis, to clarify the diagnosis, the doctor may prescribe a provocative allergy test, the so-called prick test. During this procedure, a small amount of albumin or lactoglobulin is applied to the surface of the skin. If redness appears at the application site, this will mean that the baby is allergic to milk protein.

Treatment

The main treatment for ABCM in infants is to completely stop the entry of the allergen protein into the body. If the child is breastfed, then the mother should not eat any dishes containing cow's milk and dairy products, including cookies and semi-finished products that contain milk powder.

If the baby is fed artificial formula, substitutes should be used. mother's milk made from hydrolyzed proteins or amino acids. True, highly hydrolyzed protein mixtures have a bitter taste and a specific smell, and therefore some children refuse to drink them. Amino acid-based mixtures have a neutral taste and are suitable for children with any degree of CM, even severe ones.

Specialized hypoallergenic infant formulas are usually prescribed for 6 months. After this, a test is made to transfer the baby to a regular, non-adapted formula. If allergy symptoms return, the medicinal mixture is prescribed for another six months.

Symptomatic treatment that eliminates allergy symptoms includes:

• The use of external products to relieve itching, heal and moisturize the skin. Such drugs are available in the form of ointments, creams and emulsions. Non-hormonal drugs are prescribed for mild form allergies, hormonal - with pronounced symptoms. The duration of hormone therapy should not exceed several days.
• Prescription of enterosorbents, which bind and remove toxins from the body.
• If the rash affects large areas of the skin, antihistamines are used - drugs that inhibit the development of the body's reaction to the allergen protein.

Help relieve symptoms of allergy to cow's milk protein in a baby traditional methods. So, which is used for preparing lotions and baths.

It is very rare for an allergic reaction to cow's milk proteins to last a lifetime. In most cases, over time, the body stops producing antibodies to them, and by 3-5 years the manifestations of allergies usually disappear.

Sometimes, due to a number of factors, infants do not receive their mother’s healthy milk and are forced to eat an adapted formula. These babies are more likely than others to suffer from food allergies. Breastfed children are more protected in this regard and have negative allergic reactions much less often. The body of a baby who feeds on mother’s milk can also sometimes “rebel” when the mother drinks milk.

Formula-fed children are often susceptible to food allergies

Allergy to lactose is quite rare. Only 5-7% of children suffer from this predisposition. There may be two reasons for this: milk intolerance or an allergy to milk protein. The first problem is caused by the baby’s body’s inability to digest cow’s milk, namely the protein – casein. In the second case, this protein is perceived by the immune system as foreign and the production of antibodies begins to protect against it.

Causes of allergies

Allergies can be caused by two main factors:

1. Relative or complete lactase deficiency. The baby’s body lacks lactase, a special enzyme that can break down lactose, that is, milk sugar. In this case, animal protein is only partially broken down, and a number of molecules fall into the category of harmful and are perceived negatively by the body.
2. Intolerance to the protein of cow, goat, sheep and other milk.

Children's digestive tract is very sensitive to various types of allergens. Any type of nutrition other than breast milk is extremely difficult for a baby to accept.

There is no baby in the intestines yet beneficial microflora, it is characterized by looseness and immaturity. The stomach and intestines become stronger closer to two years and learn to confidently withstand the effects of pests.

Until the age of two, the child’s stomach accepts mother’s milk best.

A child is more susceptible to allergic reactions if:

• a nursing mother is prone to allergies;
• a pregnant woman living in areas with poor environmental conditions (excess exhaust gases, emissions from enterprises, “harmful” work);
• there were dangers and illnesses during pregnancy (fetal hypoxia, risk of miscarriage, stress, gestosis, etc.).

Summing up all of the above, we get information that external conditions greatly influence the child's susceptibility to allergies. For birth healthy baby everything is important - good environmental conditions, proper nutrition expectant mother, genetic prerequisites available bad habits one of the family members, the age of the woman in labor, the process of pregnancy. Children who receive an adapted formula instead of breast milk, if such deviations exist, should be fed with formulas that do not contain milk or it is replaced with plant-based options (oatmeal, rice, soy, coconut and others).

Main symptoms

A negative response from the body is usually not immediately noticeable. One dose of a dairy product usually does not produce such a reaction. The allergy manifests itself when consuming the food a second time. Each organism is unique, so the speed at which the reaction spreads will vary: from one hour to two days. This circumstance should be taken into account when visiting a doctor to make a correct diagnosis.

The following allergic manifestations on the skin are typical for infants:

• flaky areas;

Peeling skin is one of the signs of allergies

• sores, eczema;
• itchy sensations;
• rash;
• areas of redness on the face and chest, as manifestations of atopic dermatitis (photos of what dermatitis looks like can be found on the Internet);
• swelling of the head and neck - Quincke's edema.

The digestive organs can give a negative response with the following symptoms:

• colic, diarrhea, sour smell stool, bloating;
• excessive regurgitation;
• abdominal pain;
• nausea and vomiting;
• decreased appetite.

The respiratory system can also malfunction due to allergies:

• runny or stuffy nose;
• cough;
• whistling when breathing, heavy breathing;
• wheezing.

From the outside respiratory system allergies manifest as runny nose and sneezing

• weight gain stops and this indicator lags behind the norm;
• in rare cases, anaphylactic shock occurs.

Determining protein allergy

It is very difficult for an ignorant person to understand the real reason allergies. Only an experienced allergist can assess the baby’s condition, prescribe a series of tests and tests, and then make a diagnosis.

Rash, dryness and irritation on the skin are the main companions of food allergies. It is quite simple to understand whether milk or another food caused such a reaction. You can find the culprit of allergic manifestations by keeping a food diary: you need to eliminate all dairy products and mixtures from your diet.

If there are other allergy symptoms (digestive, respiratory), diagnostics should be carried out only in laboratory conditions. To establish the true “culprit”, tests are needed for the reaction of immunoglobulin E to different products, skin tests.

Collecting information about family history can help determine whether milk is the cause of an allergy. When one of the family members has milk intolerance, it is very likely that a similar problem awaits the child.

If adult family members suffer from milk intolerance, the baby may also develop it.

Detect lactase deficiency

You can determine whether a child has lactase deficiency or the cause lies in a protein allergy using a test that doctors usually recommend. During the diet, you should exclude all products with lactase from the menu:

• artificial type of feeding involves switching to lactose-free adapted formulas (we recommend reading:);
• during lactation, lactose products are completely excluded from the diet of the nursing mother;
• For older children, their diet is regulated by excluding any dairy-based products from the menu.

Seeing that during this time the baby did not develop any negative reactions, a conclusion is drawn about lactase deficiency. If you have a protein allergy, the symptoms do not disappear immediately, but gradually disappear day by day.

It is infancy that most often suggests the appearance of an allergy to protein. This disease most often goes away by the age of three. In the case of lactase deficiency, we can talk not only about the congenital form, but also about the acquired one. A baby may begin to suffer from this disease as a result of a rotavirus infection or as a result of intestinal lambiasis. In the last two cases, the disease can be cured with diet.

Acquired intolerance can be cured with a specially selected diet.

How to treat milk allergy?

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For artificial people

Most of the powdered infant formulas offered today are made from cow's milk. When a child is allergic to it and still eats artificially, ideal option will be mixtures based on goat milk or hydrolyzed options (see also:). This transition should be made for at least six months, then you can try to return to your usual diet again. If symptoms recur, hydrolyzate mixtures should be reintroduced. The next attempt is made after another 6 months.

Goat milk formulas, such as “Nanny” and “Kozochka,” are well absorbed by the child’s body, but their price is higher than regular formulas. It is important for parents to know that changing the formula does not guarantee that the problem will not arise again. The situation may repeat itself now with goat's milk.

Hydrolyzed Protein Blends

Hydrolyzate mixtures are based on proteins split into dipeptides (more details in the article:). As a rule, there is no lactose in such mixtures, due to which they are well absorbed. The following types of hydrolyzate mixtures exist:

• used when there are very severe forms allergic manifestations: “Frisopep AS”, “Frisopep”, “Nutrilon Pepti TSC” (we recommend reading:);

• mixtures that are based on partially hydrolyzed protein are considered preventive: “Nutrilon GA”, “NAN GA” (we recommend reading:);
• prescribed for lactase intolerance and to prevent allergies: “HiPP GA”, “Nutrilak GA”, “Humana GA”.

An older child should not be given milk or products containing it. Strongly allergenic products, such as cottage cheese, nuts, fish, eggs, need to be introduced into the diet with a long delay relative to existing standards.

When profuse and itchy rashes occur, you should not neglect the help of ointments that can reduce discomfort. When using antihistamines, you should choose those that have minimal effects on the central nervous system (desloratadine).

Sorbents are capable of removing protein from the stomach and intestines. These medications should be used no longer than 2-3 days, otherwise there is a risk of constipation in the baby.

For babies

Most the best food for the baby is breast milk. It contains enzymes that help the body absorb food almost 100%. Pediatricians and specialists breastfeeding It is strongly recommended to maintain lactation for as long as possible, especially when the child has allergies. In this case, the doctor prescribes a low-allergenic diet for the nursing mother. The diet should not contain lactose or products that contain its minimum dose: condensed milk, cream, chocolate, baked goods, butter, dry soups, milk or cream, ice cream.

Mom will have to exclude even harmless ice cream during breastfeeding.

A nursing woman who has an allergic child should responsibly approach a complete change in her diet. Small doses of milk, which are usually recommended during lactation, should be completely abolished. When a baby is allergic to lactose is not very strong manifestations, the doctor may suggest trying to drink fermented baked milk, yogurt, kefir and eat cottage cheese. A tangible effect will be noticeable after about 3 weeks. Seeing that the diet does not bring visible results, doctors sometimes advise switching the baby to artificial mixtures produced by deep hydrolysis of protein.

It is possible that a child with cow's milk protein intolerance will have a similar reaction to goat protein. When doctors have determined that a baby is severely allergic to lactose, they may recommend limiting the consumption of nuts, fish and eggs.

Sour milk in complementary foods - yes, but be careful!

Milk intolerance does not put an end to all dairy products. It is allowed to introduce fermented milk products into complementary foods, but this should be done with extreme caution. Start with kefir and do this no earlier than 7 months. As an alternative, homemade yogurt is perfect, the base of which can be any type of milk. Children over 10 months of age should begin to introduce cottage cheese. Children will be able to have eggs and fish until they are one year old. Dr. Komarovsky, however, generally recommends starting complementary feeding with fermented milk products.

Why are fermented milk products less allergenic? The fact is that they all undergo hydrolysis - a reaction when protein is broken down into simpler compounds (amino acids), and they are absorbed much easier and faster. There are almost no allergens in such compounds.

You need to be careful when buying store-bought curds, even for children, as they can also cause allergies. It is optimal to feed children homemade cottage cheese. You need to put a tablespoon of sour cream in a glass of milk, stir and let it stand for several hours out of the refrigerator. As soon as the product has slightly acidified, it should be put on the fire, first pouring it into a saucepan. You need to heat the milk until the curds begin to separate from the whey. Using a spoon, scoop the curd into cheesecloth and allow excess liquid to drain. Squeeze the resulting cottage cheese and enjoy the natural product. The product should be stored in the refrigerator for no more than a day.

For older children

As soon as the enzyme and immune systems complete their formation, allergic manifestations disappear. If there is a rash or other allergic manifestations, milk should be completely excluded from baby food. You can replace cow's milk, to which your child is allergic, with hypoallergenic milk in the menu. A bright representative it in Russia is goat milk. You can buy it in farm shops or large supermarkets. It costs about 150 rubles per liter.

To replace cow's milk, you can buy goat's milk in the store.

Those interested can choose alternatives to animal milk. Plant products would also be appropriate:

• Soy. Beans are a storehouse of protein and minerals. To prepare the drink, soak the beans in water and boil them, then grind them in a blender. Strain the puree to obtain soy milk.
• Oats. It contains many vitamins and minerals. It is advisable to take oats in the husk for cooking. Wash the grains and cook in water for about an hour. Strain the porridge and you will end up with oat milk.
• Rice. Preparing milk is simple: boil the rice in water, and when ready, grind it in a blender and strain.

Such recipes can make a child’s diet more varied. If possible and desired, pamper your baby with new products.

What to do during an allergy exacerbation?

Medicines

Allergies are a reason to take action and be proactive. Waiting for further manifestations can be dangerous, as cases of anaphylactic shock. As soon as you notice the first signs of an allergy, you should immediately treat your baby by giving him antihistamine. Always focus on age restrictions specified by the manufacturer:

Suprastin tablets are not suitable for newborns less than one month old

• Suprastin tablets can be used for children from 1 month, maximum dose per day – ¼ tablet;
• Fenistil drops are recommended for children older than one month; a child under one year old can be given no more than 30 drops per day, a single volume is 3-10 drops (we recommend reading:);
• Peritol syrup is suitable for infants over 6 months; the dosage is calculated individually according to the attached instructions, based on the baby’s weight;
• Zyrtec drops are recommended for children over six months old; they should be dosed as follows: 5 drops once a day.

Important information! Newborn babies under 1 month of age should use any antiallergic drugs strictly under the supervision of a doctor.

When an allergy appears within the first two hours after taking a “harmful” product, you can use the help of enterosorbents. Such medications are able to capture and remove the allergenic product from the body.

For children of any age, Dr. Komarovsky recommends the following medications:

• Enterosgel (we recommend reading:). You should take half a teaspoon of the product, after diluting it in breast milk or in the water. The medicine should be taken up to 6 times a day before each meal.
• Polysorb. The dose is calculated based on the child’s weight: with a body weight of up to 10 kg, the daily volume of the product should range from 0.5 to 1.5 teaspoons.
• Smecta (more details in the article:). Take 1 sachet per day.

Enterosgel is perfect for detoxification child's body

Hygiene

Milk allergy in most cases affects skin. Children's skin becomes covered with a rash and redness characteristic of atopic dermatitis. The surface of the epidermis loses its moisture and becomes dry, cracks, and itches. Parents should protect damaged children's skin as much as possible and help it regenerate faster. Some parents mistakenly believe that it is impossible to bathe babies during the period of exacerbation of allergic manifestations, but in fact the truth is the opposite.

• Children simply need daily hygiene to moisturize and cleanse the skin. Bath procedures It is better to spend at least 20 minutes. During this time, the outer layer of skin will have time to be fully saturated with water.
• Make sure the water temperature fluctuates around 35°C.
• It is better to refrain from using washcloths at this time, and do not rub your skin with a towel, just blot lightly.

Forecast

It is likely that a child's milk allergy will go away on its own within the first three years. The digestive organs, the formation of enzymes, the functioning of the immune system - everything comes to a more advanced phase, which means the body becomes stronger and more resistant to external irritants. The baby’s body is already able to independently break down sugar into galactose and glucose. Protein in such a digested state is not capable of harming the child’s body.

The relative form of lactase deficiency may go away over time and as the child grows older, but if it occurs complete intolerance lactose, this pathology will remain with the baby for life. To compensate for the lack of calcium in such babies, it is important for parents to think about other ways to obtain this mineral.