Milk Allergy in Infants

Milk Allergy in Infants: The Most Common Food Allergy

Milk protein allergy (АБКМ) — is the most common food allergy in children during the first year of life. It occurs when the child's immune system mistakenly perceives the proteins found in cow's milk as a dangerous threat. It is important to clearly distinguish АБКМ from lactose intolerance, which is an enzymatic digestive disorder, not an immune reaction.

Why does АБКМ develop?

In breastfed infants, the reaction is triggered by cow's milk proteins that the mother consumes in dairy products and that pass into breast milk. In formula‑fed children, the reaction occurs directly to the proteins in standard infant formula made from cow's milk.

Symptoms of cow's milk protein allergy

Symptoms can be very varied and appear either immediately or several days after consuming the product:

• Skin manifestations (most common): Persistent atopic dermatitis that is difficult to treat, hives.
• Gastrointestinal manifestations: Frequent regurgitation, vomiting, severe colic, diarrhea (often with mucus or streaks of blood), constipation.
• Respiratory manifestations: Chronic nasal congestion, wheezing.
• General: Poor weight gain, irritability, poor sleep.

Diagnosis and treatment

The "gold standard" for diagnosis is an elimination diet. If the child is breastfed, the mother eliminates all dairy products from her diet for 2–4 weeks. If the child is formula‑fed, they are switched to a special therapeutic formula with extensively hydrolyzed protein. If the symptoms disappear, the diagnosis is considered confirmed. The good news is that most children "outgrow" this allergy by 3–5 years.