❤️ Milk protein allergy

Cow's milk protein allergy is when the immune system wrongly treats milk proteins as a threat. It is not the same as lactose intolerance. In an allergy, the protein is to blame, not the milk sugar, and the reaction can be strong. The main allergens are four kinds of casein and two whey proteins: alpha-lactalbumin and beta-lactoglobulin.

The allergy is most common in young children: an estimated 2–3% of babies in developed countries have it. Signs include rash, itching, swelling, wheezing, vomiting and diarrhoea. Sometimes there is anaphylaxis, a dangerous reaction that needs urgent help. There are also slow reactions that come hours or days later, such as long-lasting tummy problems. The good news: most children grow out of the allergy, often by age 10. About one in five still has it as an adult.

The main treatment is to remove milk proteins from the diet and read ingredient lists carefully. For babies, a doctor chooses special formulas with broken-down protein or based on amino acids. Goat's and sheep's milk usually do not work, because their proteins are similar to cow's milk proteins. Even soy causes a reaction in 10–15% of these children. Plant-based drinks are chosen together with a doctor.