A milk allergy occurs when your body attempts to fight off the proteins found in milk because your body feels threatened by them. Once your body goes into defense mode, a variety of symptoms might manifest, indicating you might have a milk allergy. Some symptoms might appear after consumption or up to a week later. An allergy to milk can occur at any age, but 2 percent to 3 percent of infants are afflicted with this allergy. The bright side is most children will outgrow this allergy somewhere between their third and fifth years.
Instructions
1. Has your infant experienced changes in her bowel movements? An infant who has a milk allergy might have bloody diarrhea. Diarrhea is a loose, watery stool that generally occurs more than three times per day.
2. Is your infant experiencing skin changes? Children with a milk allergy often experience rashes, hives and swelling. An allergy rash usually consists of little, itchy, red bumps, while hives consist of pale red and swollen areas.
3. Has your infant's eating habits changed? Refusal of food, gagging and vomiting are signs of a milk allergy.
4. Is your infant wheezing or having difficulty breathing? Wheezing is a high-pitched, whistling noise caused by constricted airways. Your infant might cough as a result of breathing difficulties.
5. Have you noticed a change in your infant's temperament? An infant with a milk allergy might become irritable or colicky. Colicky infants might scream a lot and be difficult to console. Bouts of colic usually occur during late afternoon and evening but are known to happen throughout the day. also might appear to be in pain when they really aren't. They might pull up their legs to their stomach and pass gas.
6. Does your infant exhibit signs of anaphylaxis? A severe allergic reaction to milk can cause anaphylaxis. The symptoms of anaphylaxis include several of the above symptoms. But the symptoms also include accelerated heartbeat, tightness of the throat, a hoarse voice that results in difficulty speaking, stuffy nose and coughing. It's important to note not all infants with a milk allergy will exhibit signs of anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is related more to food allergies, bug bites and stings and medical vaccinations but has been known to occur in infants with a milk allergy.
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