Milk Allergy in Newborns

Milk Allergy in Newborns: CMPA vs. LI

Cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) 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 CMPA from lactose intolerance, which is an enzymatic digestive disorder, not an immune reaction.

Causes and Symptoms

In breastfed infants, the reaction is triggered by cow's milk proteins that the mother consumes in dairy products. In formula‑fed infants, the reaction is triggered by proteins in standard infant formula. Symptoms can be varied:

• Skin: Persistent atopic dermatitis that is difficult to treat.
• Gastrointestinal: Reflux, severe colic, streaks of blood in the stool.
• General: Poor weight gain, irritability, poor sleep.

Diagnosis and Treatment

"The gold standard" for diagnosis is an elimination diet. If the infant is breastfed, the mother eliminates all dairy products from her diet for 2–4 weeks. If the infant is formula‑fed, they are switched to a special therapeutic formula with extensively hydrolyzed protein. Most children "outgrow" this allergy by 3–5 years of age.