Baby Allergy to Cow's Milk often Missed

But detecting it early can prevent onset of other conditions

European guidelines for the diagnosis and management of cow's milk protein allergy in infants.

Oct. 2007: Cow's milk is falsely blamed for a host of symptoms among babies and young children while severe cow's milk protein allergy is under-diagnosed.

Detecting a true allergy early enough can prevent the rapid onset of other allergies and associated conditions like eczema. But if cow's milk is eliminated from children's diet without being proved to be the problem, this can compromise their healthy growth.

Milk Allergy showed up most commonly among children from weaning to about two years old.

According to Levin, severe cow's milk protein allergy typically:

> Occurs every time milk is ingested and very quickly after ingestion;

> Triggers such symptoms as swelling, hives and difficulty breathing, and may lead to anaphylactic shock; and

> Produces the allergy marker immunoglobulin E ( IgE ) in the immune system.

A mild-to-moderate milk allergy can result in symptoms including diarrhea, vomiting, feeding problems, colicky behavior and poor weight gain. In some babies these symptoms become severe.