Milk Allergy:

A Guide for Teens

 

It is very common for people to think they are allergic to milk; in reality, though, only 2-5% of infants are born with milk allergy and 80% outgrow it by the time they are 6 years old. Milk allergy is also sometimes confused with lactose intolerance. What could be causing this confusion? Keep reading to discover more about milk allergy.

 

What is milk allergy?

Milk allergy is the way your body's immune system responds to one or more of the proteins found in cow's milk. Casein and whey are the most common milk-proteins that cause milk allergy.

 

What are some of the symptoms caused by milk allergy?

Milk allergy can cause skin reactions such as swelling of the lips, mouth, tongue, face or throat. It can also cause eczema, hives, a rash or redness, and itchy skin or eyes. Respiratory problems such as sneezing, nasal congestion or runny nose, coughing or wheezing, and asthma can also result from milk allergy.

 

Can any of these symptoms be dangerous?

Yes. Although most of the symptoms of milk allergy are not dangerous, in rare circumstances someone may have an anaphylactic reaction. The symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction usually happen suddenly and only seconds after drinking milk. They can include some or all of the following: extreme itching, swelling in the throat that makes it difficult to breathe, sweating, rapid heart beat, low blood pressure, nausea, diarrhea, and shock. In the most dangerous cases, these symptoms can be life threatening.

 

Is milk allergy the same as lactose intolerance?

No, milk allergy is different from lactose intolerance. Milk allergy is an allergic problem, and lactose intolerance is the inability to digest the lactose sugar commonly found in milk. The symptoms of lactose intolerance are usually diarrhea, cramping, and gas.

 

Who has milk allergy?

Milk allergy can affect people of all races and ethnic groups. Most people develop milk allergy when they are infants and outgrow their allergy as they get older. Some people do not outgrow milk allergy and remain allergic to milk as adults. Milk allergy does not usually develop later in life.

 

How can I tell if I am allergic to milk?

Your health care provider can help you figure out if you have milk allergy and rule out other medical conditions such as lactose intolerance. Finding out if you are truly allergic to a certain food can be hard. To make this task easier for you and your health care provider, it is a good idea to keep track of the following:

• What are your symptoms after eating or drinking foods that contain milk?
• How long does it take for you to get symptoms?
• Do you get symptoms every time you have a milk-containing food?
• Do any of your relatives have a food allergy?

What can I do if I have milk allergy?

Plan ahead. Think about what you would do if you accidentally ate or drank a food that contained milk. Your health care provider can prescribe a drug called epinephrine that can stop the symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction and give you time to get to the hospital. You may have heard of an Epipen® which is the most commonly prescribed form of epinephrine. If you have severe reactions to milk, it is important for you to always carry Epipen® or another form of epinephrine-just to be on the safe side.

 

You should ask your health care provider when and how to use your Epipen® and what you should do after you use it. Most of the time, you should call 911 and be seen in a hospital emergency room for observation to make sure that your reaction has stopped.

 

What else should I do if I find out that I am allergic to milk?

• Talk to a nutritionist. A nutritionist can help you find other milk-free foods that will give you the nutrition you need to stay healthy.
• Be careful when you eat out. Tell your server that you are allergic to milk and always ask about the ingredients in a menu item before you order it.
• Bring your own food if you are going to be a guest at someone's house just in case you can't eat what the host prepares.
• Read food labels and stay up-to-date with food products. Every now and then food manufactures change their labels. Even if you eat a certain product all of the time, remember that the ingredients can change.
• Give special attention to foods with labels that say Parve or Pareve. Under Jewish law, these words are supposed to mean that a food is milk and meat free. A Pareve-labeled food, however, can still contain a small amount of milk. You should not rely on this label when shopping for milk-free products.
• Avoid product labels that have the symbols K or U. These symbols mean that milk is present in the product.
• Purchase deli meats with caution. Cross-contamination can occur when meats are sliced on the same equipment used to slice cheese. Deli meats in prepackaged products can also contain milk proteins in the brines that surround the meat. Most food manufacturers list a 1-800 number on the back of their products that you can call to find more information.
• Avoid the following milk-containing foods and ingredients:

Artificial butter flavor Butter, butter fat, buttermilk Casein - milk protein Caseinates (ammonium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium) Cheese, cottage cheese, curds Cream Custard, pudding Ghee - clarified butter Half and Half® Hydrolysates (casein, milk protein, protein, whey, whey protein) Lactoglobulin

Lactose - sugar in milk Milk (derivative, protein, solids, malted, condensed, evaporated, dry, whole, low fat, non fat, skim, and LactaidTM Milk) Non dairy creamer (check for casein) Nougat Rennet - used to curdle milk (may contain whey) Sour cream Sour cream solids Whey - milk protein (delactosed, demineralized, protein concentrate) Yogurt

• Be careful when choosing the following foods or ingredients because they may contain milk:

Brown sugar flavoring Caramel flavoring Chocolate High protein flour (protein source could be skim milk powder)

Lactic acid starter culture Margarine (may contain whey) Natural flavoring Simplesse® (could be made from eggs or milk protein)

• Don't worry about eating foods with the following ingredients. They do not contain milk:

Calcium lactate Calcium stearoyl lactylate Cocoa butter Cream of tartar

Lactic acid Oleoresin Sodium lactate Sodium stearoyl lactylate

 

If you are allergic to milk, try not to get discouraged. Your health care provider can give you a prescription for epinephrine in case you do have an allergic reaction. As you learn more about your milk allergy, you will know what foods to avoid and will be able to choose a variety of new foods to keep you healthy.

 

Written by the Center for Young Women's Health Staff

 

Updated 5/1/2005

 

 

Related Information:

• Quiz: Check Your Nutrition: Calcium
• Calcium and Teens
• Lactose Intolerance
• Peanut Allergy
• Healthy Eating
• Related Links

 

Looking for other health info? Check our A-to-Z Index. ©1999-2008 Center for Young Women's Health Children's Hospital Boston. All rights reserved. About Us Contact Us Disclaimer Privacy Policy Terms of Use Health Guides By Topic Health Guides A-to-Z Guías de la Salud A-a-Z   We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.