Does your baby have Cow’s Milk Allergy (CMA)?

Somewhere between two and seven per cent of babies are thought to have a cow’s milk allergy, but new research has revealed that parents have to make an average of five trips to the doctors before the condition is diagnosed.

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When their baby is so unhappy, it’s distressing and frustrating for parent and health workers who don’t know enough about the condition to diagnose it. More than 80 per cent of parents polled by Allergy UK admitted feeling powerless when their child is ill. And while around 75 per cent of parents knew about CMA, half were unaware of the symptoms.

Immediate symptoms such as vomiting and breathing difficulties are easier to spot but often it can take several hours for any reaction, which is why parents often don’t make the connection to cow’s milk. As it takes 40 per cent of infants at least three months to be diagnosed, chronic symptoms can make family life a misery.

“If you’re not looking for CMA, you won’t find it”, says Dr Adam Fox from Allergy UK. “That is why it is important for both healthcare professionals and parents to be informed about the symptoms of cows’ milk allergy and consider it earlier.”

The charity has launched a campaign – ACT – to promote awareness of the condition. A for awareness, C for connecting the symptoms and T for taking action.

Symptoms of Cow’s Milk Allergy

Immediate reactions include:
A red itchy rash around baby’s mouth
Facial swelling
Hives (red itchy lumps) on the body
Streaming nose
Sickness and vomiting
Breathing difficulties (this is rare but in this case call an ambulance)

Delayed reactions include:
Eczema
Reflux
Colic
Poor growth
Constipation

These may become chronic, which can confuse diagnosis as they are constant and won’t necessarily flare up after drinking milk.

When should parents look out for CMA?

“CMA develops when cows’ milk is first introduced into the diet either in formula or at weaning,” explains Dr Fox. “Although it can also appear in children who are exclusively breast fed, due to cows’ milk proteins from the maternal diet passing to the infant via breastmilk.”

Cow’s milk is an important source of many vital nutrients so it shouldn’t be cut out of infants’ diets without medical advice. If you are concerned, let your GP or health visitor know.