Milk allergy, one of the most common food allergies in children, is an abnormal response by the body’s immune system to milk and products containing milk. Cow’s milk is the usual cause, but milk from sheep, goats, buffalo and other mammals also can cause a reaction. An allergic reaction usually occurs minutes to hours after consuming milk. Between 2 and 3 percent of children younger than 3 are allergic to milk.
Classification
Milk allergy is a food allergy, an adverse immune reaction to a food protein that is normally harmless to the non-allergic individual.
It is distinct from lactose intolerance, which is a non-allergic food sensitivity, and comes from a lack of production of the enzyme lactase, required to digest the predominant sugar in milk. Lactose intolerance is considered the normal state for most adults on a worldwide scale and is not typically considered to be a disease condition.
Milk Allergy Symptoms
Immediately after consuming milk, signs and symptoms of a milk allergy might include:
Hives
Wheezing
Vomiting
anaphylaxis
Signs and symptoms that may take more time to develop include:
Loose stools, which may contain blood
Diarrhea
Abdominal cramps
Coughing or wheezing
Runny nose
Watery eyes
Itchy skin rash, often around the mouth
Colic, in babies
Constriction of airways, including a swollen throat that makes it difficult to breathe
Facial flushing
Itching
Shock, with a marked drop in blood pressure
Diagnosis is carried out by first doing a diagnostic elimination diet, skin prick tests, measuring IgE in blood, and conducting in-office food challenges. A double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge is still the gold standard for the diagnosis for all food allergies, including milk allergies.
Homoeopathic Approach
Homeopathy is one of the most popular holistic systems of medicine. The selection of remedy is based upon the theory of individualization and symptoms similarity by using holistic approach. This is the only way through which a state of complete health can be regained by removing all the sign and symptoms from which the patient is suffering. The aim of homeopathy is not only to treat milk allergy but to address its underlying cause and individual susceptibility. As far as therapeutic medication is concerned, several remedies are available to treat milk allergy symptoms that can be selected on the basis of cause, sensations and modalities of the complaints. For individualized remedy selection and treatment, the patient should consult a qualified homeopathic doctor in person.
There are following remedies which are helpful in the treatment of milk allergy symptoms:
Aethusa Cynapium:
If Aethusa is the remedy of choice then the sufferer is usually a child with a congenital absence of the enzyme lactase, a condition also known as Alactasia. These children can digest milk and other dairy products in any form and suffer from stomach aches or colic and vomiting every time they ingest milk and dairy products. Such children also lose weight due to their inability to digest milk. They are irritable, anxious and crying. Milk may also produce green colored diarrhea or loose stools that contains undigested particles and is preceded by drowsiness, stomach aches and exhaustion. In some cases Aethusa Cynapium patients may also suffer from constipation and indigestion due to milk.
Apis Mellifica:
If you are an Apis Mellifica patient then you will have allergy to milk and dairy products and the ingestion of milk or dairy acts as an allergen and leads to a severe anaphylactic reaction (allergic reaction) that presents with symptoms of urticaria or skin rash, swelling, redness and itching of the body and difficulty in breathing. With all these symptoms you will have a condition of thirstlessness.
China Officinalis:
Patient unable to digest milk or other dairy products, which when taken will produce symptoms of bloating, belching and flatulence. You will also suffer from abdominal colic due to gas that becomes relieved only by bending double or by vomiting of food. You may also develop problems in breathing with mucus formation, coughing episodes and rattling sound in chest. You may also feel the effect of bloating on your face as it turns red and your tongue is also thickly coated and dirty.
Magnesium Muriaticum:
If your remedy for lactose intolerance is Magnesium Muriaticum, then you will not be able to digest milk and develop blisters on lips and tongue as a result. Your tongue will also feel burnt and scalded. You may also develop symptoms of headache and suffer from mental stress. Your symptoms of lactose intolerance are usually chronic.
Lac Vaccinum Defloratum:
Lac Vaccinum Defloratum is made by potentization of skimmed milk; hence it is suitable for treating the symptoms of lactose intolerance. If your remedy is Lac Vaccinum Defloratum, then after ingesting of milk and other dairy products you develop symptoms of nausea with headache, and vomiting. You may also suffer from obstinate constipation leading to passage of large stools that involves excessive straining. All these symptoms will ultimately make you feel extremely fatigued and tired.