Table of contents:
- What causes children to experience cow's milk allergy?
- Immunoglobulin E (IgE) reactions are mediated
- Non-immunoglobulin E-mediated reactions
- Mixed reaction of Immunoglobulin E and Non-immunoglobulin E mediated
- Signs and symptoms of a cow's milk allergy
- Mild symptoms
- Severe symptoms
- Is a cow's milk allergy the same as lactose intolerance?
- Is my child at risk for cow's milk allergy?
- Allergy to anything else
- Atopic eczema
- Genetics or family history
- Age
- Milk alternative for children who are allergic to cow's milk
- Breast milk
- Hypoallergenic formula
- Soy milk
- Cashew milk
- Almond milk
Have you ever heard of cow's milk allergy? In fact, this condition is a type of allergy in children that often attacks. Why do some children have allergies to cow's milk and some don't and how is it treated? Here's the review for you.
What causes children to experience cow's milk allergy?
Cow's milk allergy in babies is very common. This is caused by the body's immune system recognizing cow's milk protein as a foreign substance in the body.
As a result, the body responds to and fights against incoming proteins, as well as bacteria and viruses.
Cow's milk contains casein (protein) and several other proteins.
Because they are known as "threats", the body releases chemicals that trigger allergy symptoms.
The release of chemical compounds due to cow's milk allergy is based on the following reasons.
Immunoglobulin E (IgE) reactions are mediated
Immunoglubulin E is an antibody that plays a role in fighting allergies. Here, the immune system releases histamine compounds, chemical compounds that the body releases when it responds to allergies.
These symptoms last about 20-30 minutes after your little one consumes cow's milk protein. However, symptoms can appear for more than 2 hours.
Seeing this, parents must immediately take a solution to treat cow's milk allergy in babies.
Non-immunoglobulin E-mediated reactions
T cells or white blood cells are interpreted as the cause of allergy symptoms. Usually the symptoms appear gradually, from 48 hours to 1 week after your little one drinks it.
Even though the cause is different from the previous one, immediately find ways to deal with the symptoms of cow's milk allergy.
Mixed reaction of Immunoglobulin E and Non-immunoglobulin E mediated
As for babies who have symptoms of cow's milk allergy due to a combination of immunoglobulin E and Non-immunoglobulin E-mediated reactions.
If so, treating babies with symptoms of milk allergy should be done quickly by parents.
Signs and symptoms of a cow's milk allergy
Based on the recommendation of the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI), the symptoms of cow's milk allergy are divided into two, namely: children who are receiving exclusive breastfeeding and children who are consuming formula milk.
The characteristics or symptoms of a baby having an allergy to cow's milk, namely:
Mild symptoms
- Vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, blood in the stool
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Colds, coughs, chronic
- Colic that lasts continuously (more than 3 hours per day per week for 3 weeks)
Severe symptoms
- Failure to thrive due to diarrhea and the child does not want to eat
- Iron deficiency anemia due to blood in the stool
If you experience severe symptoms, consult a pediatrician immediately.
However, if you are in doubt about the symptoms that appear, consulting a doctor is the best way.
Generally, allergies will occur only until the child is 4 years old. However, if the symptoms still appear when the child is more than 4 years old, maybe the allergy will be experienced until he is a teenager.
After that, the allergy symptoms usually go away on their own. Symptoms of cow's milk allergy are very rare in adults.
Even so, children who have previously experienced symptoms of a milk allergy are at risk of experiencing allergies to other things.
Even this condition can cause asthma when you grow up.
Is a cow's milk allergy the same as lactose intolerance?
Unlike lactose intolerance which does not involve the immune system, this condition is quite different.
Symptoms of cow's milk allergy actually occur due to the reaction of the child's immune system with the protein contained in cow's milk.
The types of protein that most often cause allergies are whey and casein. Babies and children who experience it may be allergic to one or both of these proteins.
The reactions that appear usually occur within minutes or hours of consuming milk.
Children can be allergic to any milk, because in various milks there are proteins in them.
However, the most common thing is allergies caused by cow's milk.
Is my child at risk for cow's milk allergy?
Several risk factors that can increase the risk of incidence of cow's milk allergy symptoms in children and infants, namely:
Allergy to anything else
Many children who are allergic to milk are also allergic to other substances or objects. However, it is usually a milk allergy that causes an allergy to other substances to appear.
Atopic eczema
Atopic eczema is a chronic or chronic skin disorder, in the form of itching and redness on various parts of the body.
Children who have atopic dermatitis are more likely to have allergies to food, including milk.
Genetics or family history
Children who have family members with a history of allergies to certain foods are more likely to be allergic to cow's milk.
Age
Allergies to milk often occur in infants and toddlers because their digestive system is still developing.
As it grows, the child's digestive system will develop and mature.
Over time, allergies are due to the immature digestion of the digestive organs, so they adapt to the proteins in milk.
Milk alternative for children who are allergic to cow's milk
It doesn't have to be cow's milk, there are many other milk options that can be given to children who are allergic to cow's milk, here are the options:
Breast milk
For babies who are still breastfeeding, continuing exclusive breastfeeding is the best option to fulfill their nutrition.
The protein content in breast milk is quite high and its composition is different from the protein found in cow's milk.
The quality of breast milk protein is better than cow's milk because breast milk has a more complete type of amino acid than cow's milk.
One example is the amino acid taurine which has a role in brain development.
This amino acid is found in high enough amounts in developing brain tissue.
Hypoallergenic formula
If your child consumes formula milk or milk formula mixed with breast milk, choose a hypoallergenic formula.
Hypoallergenic milk is milk that has peptides with a small molecular weight and does not cause allergic reactions in children.
Milk that is included in the hypoallergenic group is extensive hydrolyzed milk and amino acid formula milk.
Extensive hydrolyzed milk is given to children who suffer from milk allergy with mild or moderate clinical symptoms.
Amino acid formula is given to children who suffer from milk allergy with severe clinical symptoms.
As an alternative, children who suffer from cow's milk allergy can also consume milk containing soy protein isolates.
Soy milk
Soy milk for children with allergies can be an alternative to replace cow's milk intake.
Soya milk contains isoflavones, which are phytoestrogens that act like hormones in the body.
In addition, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), soy milk formula is an amino acid formulated to meet the needs of infants.
These amino acids are formed from protein and other ingredients to support children's nutrition.
Therefore, soya formula is often the choice of mothers for babies who have allergies to cow's milk.
It is important for parents to know, maybe some children have an allergy to the protein in soy milk.
Although it is often an alternative choice, mothers can provide extensive hydrolyzed formula.
Apart from complementing the protein content, extensive hydrolyzed formula also contains ARA (arachidonic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid).
Both are fatty acids that support children's visual and visual power, as well as the development of brain memory in the short term.
Cashew milk
Not only delicious as a snack, cashews can also be used as milk.
The way it is made is also the same as almond milk, you can make it yourself at home or buy one that is ready.
The mixture that is usually used to make cashew milk is dates, sea salt, and vanilla flavor.
Although cashews tend to be low in fat, cashews are high in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
It also contains vitamin E, vitamin K, vitamin B6, phosphorus, zinc, magnesium and iron.
This content helps maintain a healthy heart, eyes, and blood circulation is also a function of cashews.
One glass of cashew milk can meet 15 percent of the daily requirement for vitamin K, 13 percent, iron, and 25 percent for magnesium.
Almond milk
Almond milk is often made without using added sweeteners. If sweetened, generally use natural sweeteners such as honey or dates.
When compared to soy milk, almond milk has a lower calorie count, around 90 calories per glass (240 ml).
Almond milk is also richer in unsaturated fatty acids and rich in vitamin E.
One serving of almond milk can meet the needs of vitamin E by 50 percent.
Not only vitamin E, the content of vitamin A and vitamin D, and calcium.
However, almond milk should not be given to children under one year of age.
The most important thing is to always consult a doctor if you want to provide alternatives to cow's milk.
In addition, remember that children who are allergic to milk should not be given cow's milk and all its derivative products, such as butter and margarine, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, pudding, and others.
Also watch out for products that contain casein, whey, and lactose in the raw material column.
For children who can eat solid foods, you can swap calcium intake from cow's milk with other calcium sources, such as spinach, pokcoy, tofu, oranges, eggs, anchovies, and sardines.
