Milk Allergy: Symptoms and Treatment

It is not always easy to diagnose a milk allergy. Symptoms and testing options are presented here.

Milk allergy or lactose intolerance?

Whether a milk allergy or lactose intolerance is present makes a difference for the person concerned. Because these are not synonyms. With lactose intolerance (also: lactose intolerance), the intestines lack the enzyme lactase, so the milk sugar (lactose) in the milk cannot be processed and remains undigested. A feeling of fullness, flatulence and diarrhoea can be the result. People with a lactose intolerance can usually fall back on lactose-free products.

Milk allergy is an allergy in the classical sense. Here the body reacts to a substance that is actually harmless by producing antibodies. In the case of milk allergy, these are directed against the proteins (casein and whey protein) of the milk.

Milk allergy symptoms

Cow’s milk allergy mainly affects infants and toddlers. In many cases the allergy disappears again in the first years of life.

Often the cow’s milk allergy is genetically determined. The symptoms are different for each person and cannot always be immediately distinguished from other diseases. In addition, they can also occur with a time delay, i.e. after a few minutes or several hours after the consumption of milk or milk products. Therefore, a distinction is often made between the immediate type and the late type.

Instant type

• Skin problems like itching, swelling or hives
• Difficulty breathing, runny nose or cough
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Diarrhoea
• Allergic shock (rather rare)

Late type

• Breathing difficulties
• Skin rashes (neurodermatitis)
• Digestive problems (e.g. constipation or inflammation of the intestine)

Diagnosis of the allergy

It is not always easy to detect an allergy to cow’s milk. It is helpful to consult a doctor who specialises in allergies.

If a milk allergy is suspected to cause symptoms, the person can keep a diet diary to find out after which consumption there are increased problems. It also makes sense to follow an outlet diet, which means that dairy products are completely removed for 14 days and it is then observed whether the symptoms improve. The following methods can also be used in the doctor’s surgery:

• Prick test: The patient gets some of the potential allergen applied to the slightly incised skin. After a waiting period of about 20 minutes, allergic reactions may occur. Here you can learn more about the prick test.
• Blood test: So-called IgE antibodies (immunoglobulin E) are elevated in the blood in the case of milk allergy.
• Provocation test: Here the patient consumes some of the suspected allergen, i.e. cow’s milk, under medical supervision.

Treatment of milk allergy

There is no cure for milk allergy, products containing milk must be avoided in the diet instead. Milk is not always so obviously contained in a food, it is also contained in it, for example:

• Mashed potatoes
• Ice
• Ready meals and
• In cakes and baking mixes.

If a product is labelled “May contain traces of milk”, this should also be omitted. Foods containing goat, mare or sheep’s milk and soya products are often not an alternative, as they are not always tolerated.

A problem with the omission could be that too few nutrients such as calcium or protein are absorbed. As a rule, these can be taken in through other foods: For example, protein is found in lean meat, fish and eggs, as well as in legumes and oatmeal (more about protein-rich nutrition). Calcium is also found in vegetables such as broccoli or spinach.

It makes sense to draw up a diet plan for yourself or your child together with your doctor or nutritionist.