Cow’s milk is one of the most common food allergies in children, perhaps because it is usually the first foreign protein (substance) encountered by infants. Cow’s milk allergy (CMA) affects about 2 – 7.5% of infants. Unfortunately, in CMA patients, 50% will develop an allergy to other food proteins (e.g. egg, soya, peanuts) and 50 – 80% will develop an allergy against one or more inhalant allergens (e.g. grass pollens, house dust mite, cat) before puberty. There is also a higher risk of developing other allergic diseases such as asthma or eczema. Small amounts of milk protein can pass through breast milk and may cause allergic signs and symptoms in some infants. In this case, the mother must exclude all dairy products from her diet, take a calcium replacement and continue to breast feed under the supervision of a dietitian.

Milk Allergens

Milk contains many protein fractions (allergens) that cause allergic reactions. The two main components are whey and casein, and an individual may be allergic to either or both. The casein is the curd that forms when milk is left to sour, and the whey is the watery fraction which is left after the curd is removed.

The whey fraction (20%) contains mainly alpha-lactalbumin and beta-lactoglobulin and is most likely to produce the IgE-antibodies (Immunoglobulin E) and causes the most clinical problems. These IgE-antibodies can be tested for in the blood, and by skin prick testing. The whey proteins are altered by high heat, and so the whey-sensitive person may be able to tolerate evaporated, boiled or sterilized (long life) milk and milk powder.

Casein (80%) is heat stable and is the most important allergen in cheese. The harder the cheese, the more casein is formed. This is the least allergenic for those individuals allergic to the whey fraction. Extensive heating may reduce only, but not eliminate, the allergenicity of the protein fractions.

Cross-reactivity

There is cross-reactivity among milk proteins obtained from cows, goats and sheep. Only the whey fraction in the goat’s milk differ from that in the cow’s milk. Goat’s milk is tolerated by only 40% of children who are allergic to cow’s milk.

What is Milk Allergy/Intolerance?

Clinically abnormal reactions to cow’s milk protein (CMP) may be due to the interaction between one or more milk proteins and one or more immune mechanisms. Reactions where the immune system is involved, which are mainly immediate IgE-mediated reactions (involving IgE-antibodies) are defined as cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA). Reactions not involving the immune system are defined as cow’s milk protein intolerance (CMPI).

This is not to be confused with Lactose Intolerance, when individuals cannot digest the milk sugar called lactose, because they lack the enzyme lactase. This causes diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain and gas, which mimics cow milk allergy (CMA).

Clinical Types of Milk Allergic Reactions

Reactions can be immediate or start several hours or even days after the intake of moderate to large amounts of CM.

Type 1: Symptoms start within minutes of intake or small volumes of CM. It mainly causes skin problems, eczema or urticaria (hives). May have respiratory (runny nose, wheezy chest) or gastro-intestinal (vomiting and diarrhoea) symptoms.

Type 2: Symptoms start several hours after intake of modest volumes of CM; mostly symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea.

Type 3: Symptoms develop after more than 20 hours, or even days after intake of large volumes of CM. Symptoms include diarrhoea, with or without respiratory or skin reactions.

How is Milk Allergy Diagnosed?

Only the immediate milk reactions that develop after a few minutes are most likely to give a positive blood or skin test, as these detect IgE that is involved in the immediate type reaction. Nearly 60% of milk reactions in the young child are the delayed type (intolerant) and therefore unlikely to give positive results with the blood and skin tests. The diagnosis is then made by the Elimination-Challenge Test. This should demonstrate the relief of symptoms on the removal of milk from the diet and the recurrence of symptoms when re-introduced. This Elimination-Challenge Test should be supervised by the doctor and the dietitian.

Skin Prick Tests:

SPT can be used and are especially accurate in the young child. Small drops of the suspected milk or other foods are placed on the forearm. A small prick is made through the drop into the skin. A wheal and flare reaction after 15 minutes will indicate that the patient is allergic to milk.

Blood Tests (“CAP RAST”):

A small blood sample is taken by the nurse or the doctor and sent to the laboratory for testing. This CAP RAST tests for milk protein as a whole or the individual fractions of milk. Available CAP RAST tests are:

The CAP RAST and the skin prick tests are reimbursed by Medical Aid.

Guidelines for Nutritional Management

No milk-free diet should be undertaken without the supervision of a dietitian, who will provide milk-free recipes and a list of alternative products to ensure a nutritionally adequate diet. This is done to avoid a deficiency of calcium, riboflavin and Vitamin D.

Milk may be present where you least expect it. For example, in viennas, sausages, fish fingers, pie crusts, biscuits like ProVita and breakfast cereals.

Milk substitutes in the form of soya,hypo-allergenic whey and casein formulas or amino acid based formulas may be given to the young infant on the advice of the doctor. There are many hypoallergenic milks available for young infants. Unfortunately, they are extremely expensive and have a bitter taste.

Will my child outgrow the milk allergy?

Most children will outgrow their CMA, ± 60% at 4 years and ± 80% at 6 years. Some patients retain the allergy throughout life. If the milk is strictly excluded from the diet for ± 2 – 3 years, the child then has an 80% chance of tolerating the milk in small amounts again. CMA may be acquired later in life.