The baby’s immune system begins to form only after birth. Therefore, it reacts aggressively to some unfamiliar substances. One of these is cow's milk protein. In infants, allergies to this product are fleeting. It does not threaten the life of the child, but causes significant discomfort. Usually, the pathology passes by the age of five. Only in exceptional cases does it become permanent.
The essence of pathology
Any allergy is an autoimmune disorder, which is expressed in an inadequate reaction of the body's defense system to external exposure. As a result, it begins to produce antibodies to substances that do not pose a threat to human life.
About 5% of newborns are allergic to cow's milk protein. The body recognizes it as a foreign antigen. In total, more than 20 varieties of protein are present in such milk. The most active among them are the following: casein, alpha and beta-lactoglobulins, albumin.
How does an allergic reaction develop? Normally, the molecular chains of milk in the digestive system break down into elements that are easily absorbed by the body. In infants, the gastrointestinal system is still poorly developed, enzyme deficiency is often observed. Therefore, some parts of the molecular chain are preserved. It is on them that the autoimmune response is directed. This is how an allergy to cow protein in infants develops .
Causes of the disorder
It is immediately worth noting that the best nutrition for a newborn in the first six months of life is breast milk. It has in its composition all the substances necessary for the child and is well absorbed. Pediatricians consider any lure to be rough food. Allergens, penetrating the esophagus, easily overcome its loose structure and enter the bloodstream. Therefore, this disorder is so common among infants. Closer to 2-3 years, the walls of the gastrointestinal tract are strengthened. They gain the ability to resist pathogenic elements. Therefore, "self-healing" from allergies is often observed.
The reaction itself is of two kinds. True hypersensitivity develops even when a small amount of milk is consumed. In this case, the cause of the disorder lies in the insufficiency of degrading enzymes, as mentioned above. A pseudo-allergic reaction is observed with excessive use of the product, when the stomach simply can not cope with the processing of such an amount of milk.
Risk factors
The likelihood of an allergy to cow's milk protein in infants increases with the following predisposing factors:
- complicated pregnancy, accompanied by stress and the threat of miscarriage;
- adverse environmental conditions;
- tendency to any type of allergy in one of the parents;
- improper nutrition of a woman during pregnancy.
Clinical picture
Antigens, together with blood flow, are carried to various systems of internal organs. Therefore, there are no unambiguous symptoms of a milk allergy in a child. Pathology can affect the organs of the gastrointestinal tract and skin, as well as express a violation of respiratory function. The clinical picture becomes more vivid against the background of acute respiratory viral infections and infectious processes in stressful situations.
Gastrointestinal problems in children
In babies, an allergic reaction is most often manifested by an indigestion. In the waste products, food particles are usually noticeable. The baby may be regularly disturbed by vomiting and diarrhea, regurgitation.
Another unpleasant symptom of intolerance to cow's milk is the presence of red blood cells in the stool. Due to the interaction of protein elements and body antibodies, damage to the intestinal mucosa occurs. The presence of red blood cells in feces confirms the corresponding analysis, and visually they can be detected by blood veins.
Skin manifestations
If parents do not notice an unusual reaction of the immune system and changes in their health status, the symptoms of allergy to cow's milk protein in infants continue to increase. For example, edema and redness, itchy dermatoses appear on the skin. A direct consequence of these processes are severe scratching and secondary infection. The appearance of a milk scab also indicates the development of pathology.
Respiratory failure
In rare cases, an allergy to cow's milk protein in infants is accompanied by damage to the respiratory system. In this situation, parents can notice in a child:
- continuous sneezing;
- allergic rhinitis;
- nasal congestion.
Anaphylactic shock is considered a rather dangerous manifestation of an allergic reaction. The disorder begins to develop almost instantly. The skin turns pale, the child's face and throat swelling, there is a spasm of the larynx. Often the clinical picture is supplemented by convulsions and urinary incontinence. The described condition always requires the provision of emergency medical care.
Diagnostic Methods
How to determine milk allergy in children? What should parents do first? Such questions should be sought for help from a pediatrician.
First, the doctor should examine the child, examine his medical history. A specialist can ask a number of clarifying questions to parents in order to get a complete clinical picture. After this, laboratory and clinical tests are prescribed:
- fecal analysis;
- blood test for the content of antibodies to allergens;
- skin tests.
Allergy to cow protein in its symptoms and course resembles lactase deficiency. Therefore, it is easy to confuse diseases, which is strictly not recommended, because they imply different approaches to treatment. In order to differentiate pathologies, the pediatrician prescribes lactose-free nutrition for a while (up to 7 days). If allergy symptoms do not appear, then the cause of the ailment is lactase intolerance.
Treatment features
The main difficulty in treating allergies to cow's milk proteins in infants is that this product is the main type of food at this age. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the baby is transferred to special mixtures. They are based on hydrolyzed protein, soy or milk from other animals. The new mixture is introduced into the diet gradually and in diluted form.
When the baby is breastfeeding, the woman’s nutrition is reviewed. For some time, she will have to give up all products in which cow's milk (cottage cheese, kefir, fermented baked milk, condensed milk and others) may be present. A noticeable improvement in the condition of the baby is usually observed 14-30 days after the start of the diet.
In the acute form, therapy is necessarily supplemented by the use of medications. Children with severe forms of the disease (Quincke's edema, anaphylactic shock) are subject to hospitalization. Other patients may be treated at home. Usually, therapy involves the use of the following groups of medicines:
- Enterosorbents (Enterosgel, Lactofiltrum). These drugs first adsorb allergen substances onto themselves, and then remove them from the body.
- Antihistamines. Reduce swelling, redness, and skin itching. The choice of a specific drug is up to the doctor.
- Hormonal drugs (Prednisolone, Hydrocortisone). Among the main indications for use, symptoms that require an immediate response can be distinguished. This is usually a bronchospasm, severe swelling, lowering blood pressure. Medicines may be administered only by medical professionals.
Separately, it is worth mentioning the local treatment. They resort to his help in the presence of skin manifestations of the disorder. At the same time, some drugs (Bepanten) only repair damaged skin, while others (Fenistil) block the mechanism of allergy development itself. Therefore, they eliminate puffiness, itching and redness.
ethnoscience
Recipes of folk healers have long been used to eliminate the symptoms of allergy to cow's milk proteins in infants. However, this treatment should not be considered as an alternative to traditional therapy. Without identifying an allergen and revising the child’s diet, it is not possible to overcome the pathology. In addition, additional consultation with a pediatrician is required before starting a course of therapy.
- With a manifestation of allergies to cow's milk protein in infants, a series of cures helps. Using this medicinal plant, a healing broth is prepared. Baths and lotions with it help relieve skin itching and swelling. Some parents give a decoction of a series of children for oral administration, starting with a few drops.
- A decoction of dill seed helps with gastrointestinal disorders. Most often it is used for diarrhea, colic, and regurgitation. To prepare the product, you will need about half a teaspoon of dry seeds, pour a glass of boiling water, let it brew. For therapeutic purposes, the child is given 3-4 drops of “medicine” several times a day. Gradually increase the dosage to a whole spoon.
These are the most common recipes that are found in folk doctors. More detailed information on this issue can be obtained from the attending pediatrician.
Prognosis for recovery
Unfortunately, in recent years the number of sick children has been steadily increasing. However, parents should not be upset if the baby is allergic to cow's milk protein. Why it arises and how to deal with it correctly - these are the issues they should first bewilder themselves. High-quality medical diagnosis today allows you to identify the cause of the disorder and choose the most effective methods for its elimination.
According to statistics, by the end of the first year of life, approximately half of the children manage to completely overcome allergies. By the age of three, only 10% of babies are diagnosed with this problem. Only in exceptional cases does it remain for life.
Prevention Methods
Why allergies to antigens of cow's milk appear in infants are described a little higher. Is it possible to avoid its appearance? As a prophylaxis of the disorder, pediatricians recommend the following rules:
- Monitor your diet during pregnancy.
- It is better to abandon alcoholic beverages, since the alcohol contained in them can provoke hypersensitivity to the fetus - an increase in sensitivity to certain substances.
- When breastfeeding, a woman should exclude those foods that most often cause allergies.
- In the event of the onset of the initial symptoms of an allergic reaction in a child, it is necessary to immediately seek qualified medical help.
An allergy to cow's milk in infants is a common phenomenon. This does not mean that its manifestations can be ignored. It is better for parents to immediately consult a pediatrician and, under his control, choose options for eliminating the atypical reaction of the body.