THE most common food allergy among infants is cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA). This occurs when an infant consumes or comes into contact with cow’s milk and its products. The child’s immune system reacts abnormally to the protein in cow’s milk and attempts to neutralise the protein by releasing various chemicals causing the symptoms of CMPA.
It is estimated to affect between 5-8% of infants worldwide. CMPA typically begins in the first few months of life, although they may not immediately develop symptoms upon the first few consumption of milk. Generally, the majority of children outgrow CMPA where 50% outgrow it by age 1-2 years, 80% by 4 years, and 90% by 6 years of age. However certain groups of children especially those with other allergic conditions including asthma, rhinitis, or eczema, are at higher risk of persistent CMPA symptoms.
The allergic reactions can be classified into rapid onset which occurs within an hour of ingestion, or delayed onset which takes hours to days to develop the symptoms. The symptoms may affect various body systems including the gastrointestinal, skin, and respiratory systems. Some of the typical symptoms are skin hives, swelling of the face and throat, coughing or shortness of breath, wheezing, and diarrhoea. On rare occasions, anaphylaxis may occur, which is a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment.
CMPA is sometimes confused with lactose intolerance. However, lactose intolerance does not involve the immune system and generally present with bloating or diarrhoea after consuming milk or lactose-containing foods. Lactose intolerance occurs when the digestive system is not able to fully digest lactose. It is important to differentiate the two as the treatment are different.
