As we grow up, our body becomes sensitive to some compounds and things around us. At times, we are hypersensitive to some compounds and elements in our environment. These compounds or things that we develop hypersensitivity towards are called allergens and can cause allergies in a person’s body.
A lot of people have rare allergies that seldom get triggered. Some people might not even detect that they are allergic to certain things during their lifetime. However, some people experience allergies to common items like dust, chicken, eggs and even milk. Milk is the elixir of life that every child drinks, but some people develop allergic reactions to milk as they grow up.
This allergic reaction can come through as lactose intolerance, where the person’s GIT and other parts are intolerant to the proteins and sugars present in the milk. If you see that you are unable to digest milk and milk-based products, you should get allergy testing done at Agilus Diagnostics.
What should you know about milk allergies?
You might think that milk allergy is not that common among people, but milk allergy can happen at any age. Human milk is usually safe for a human baby, especially the milk from his or her own mother. However, cow milk can have allergens in it for a major section of hypersensitive people. Sometimes, a person might also develop an allergy to sheep or goat milk. Lactose intolerance in adults is not a major problem, but it can be a problem in infants who need milk for their overall development.
The milk allergy can be caused by an immune system reaction. The immune system reaction is usually seen in adults. However, some kids might develop milk allergy even before they understand the meaning of lactose intolerance. For example, studies have found that nearly 2 to 3 percent of children below the age of 3 years can be allergic to milk and have a strong case of lactose intolerance.
This can be deadly, especially in children. If you have a milk allergy and are ignorant of the signs, then it can complicate your metabolism. In severe cases, it can lead to breathing problems and other issues. Therefore, milk allergy testing is very important for people of any age. If you go to our nearby diagnostic centre, you can get complete allergen testing, including milk compounds.
How prone is your child to milk allergy?
A milk allergy is possible at any age. However, children who are growing and are within the 3 to 16 years bracket can have milk allergy prevalence. If the child has a milk allergy, the best thing that you can do is to keep him away from milk or milk-based foods. This can be difficult for a child because they usually eat such foods.
However, it is easier these days because there are so many plant-based alternatives to animal milk. If your child does not have a nut allergy, he can drink almond or soy milk. The child can also drink oat milk as an alternative to animal milk. If your child develops a milk allergy, get him tested for different allergens and do not panic. Most children outgrow their milk allergy at some later stage of their life.
If the milk allergy does not go away and it persists to adulthood, the person will need a b at later stages. If you have milk intolerance, you will face discomfort and indigestion when you drink milk or other milk-based products. You might also face flatulence and other issues when you consume dairy despite the intolerance.
After your lactose intolerance has been tracked, the doctor will suggest medicines that you can take before or after the consumption to stay healthy and not face the consequences. Apart from the symptoms of lactose intolerance, your doctor will also suggest a test for lactose intolerance if you experience the following allergic reactions.
Hives
If you are allergic to milk, you will see redness and severe inflammation when you consume milk. If you still have not undergone an allergen test with us, you should look for hives on your skin. If you are allergic to milk, you will experience red bumps, eruptions and welts on your skin.
Hives can be of different shapes and sizes, and these disappear suddenly when the allergic reaction subsides. So, if you experience redness and breakouts after consuming milk and cannot have any other cause, you should go for a milk intolerance test.
Indigestion
The most common sign of an intolerant stomach to milk is indigestion right after you consume some dairy products. The milk first enters your stomach and GIT. Therefore, an upset stomach is always a sure-shot sign of lactose intolerance. A much more severe sign can also be vomiting and nausea after you drink milk. Milk is a complete food, and it should make you feel energetic.
However, if it is making you puke and dizzy, then it is a sign that something is wrong. You might also face cases of diarrhoea, especially in an infant. The infant might also pass blood with stool if the milk does not agree with the digestive tract. The more severe signs are seen in children because their GI tract is not completely developed and is more sensitive.
Also Read: Diarrhoea Symptoms Causes Treatment Home Remedies
Swelling of tongue
When you drink milk or eat anything made of milk, it first comes in contact with your tongue and lips. Therefore, it is also possible that the allergy comes up as swelling and rashes around the lips and tongue.
This is a sign that is not seen among many patients, but if it is seen, it is a very severe sign of milk allergy. If such a condition occurs, the person will not be able to eat anything else for quite some time.
Conclusion
When we conduct allergen testing for our patients, we include milk and lactose as allergens for the test. At Agilus Diagnostics, we have allergen testing for a wide profile of compounds so that you can find out your hypersensitivity in one go. If you find out that you are allergic to milk, try to avoid milk as much as possible. You should also discuss with your doctor and understand how to manage the condition properly.
Agilus Diagnostics, a subsidiary of Fortis Healthcare Limited
