What to do if the baby is lactose intolerant? What to do if the baby has lactose intolerance

Milk is a champion in the content of calcium and phosphorus, rich in B vitamins, vitamin A and D. However, this drink is not equally useful for all children. Why and whether the baby will outgrow this phenomenon, about this and will be discussed below.

Why milk becomes an allergen

Approximately 8% of babies under 1 year old suffer from allergies.

An allergy is understood as an increased sensitivity of the body to the effects of certain antigen substances that are found in plant pollen, animal hair, and products. Any allergic reaction can develop in two directions:

A true allergy develops if a baby with an immature digestive system (fully formed by the age of 2 years) drinks or eats some milk-containing products, and his body cannot cope with the incoming proteins.
Pseudo-allergy, which is understood as the manifestation of symptoms with excessive consumption of milk against the background of sufficient production of the necessary enzymes.

Milk contains just over 25 antigens, the most active of which are caseionogen, lactoalbumin, α- and β-lactoglobulin. It is the last protein that is considered the main allergen, but it is not in the mother’s breast milk, therefore there is no allergy to such food.

Proteins by chemical structure- a set of amino acids that, getting into the intestines, under the influence of enzymes, break down into separate elements. It is in this form that they are completely absorbed.

However, in infants, digestion is not yet fully formed, and therefore few enzymes are produced. Then the protein chain is partially destroyed, combining several amino acids. These complex structures are not absorbed in the intestines, which is why an immune response develops in the form of an allergy.

Reasons for the reaction

Appearance hypersensitivity to certain products, including milk, in a baby is determined by heredity. That is, if the mother is allergic, then the risk of such reactions in the baby is rapidly increasing. adversely affect the health of the child not favorable conditions pregnancy, constant stress, any pathology (fetal hypoxia, gestosis).

Thus, an allergy to milk in an infant can develop in two cases:

if a mother who is breastfeeding a child has eaten some product based on cow's milk;
when using mixtures that are usually prepared on the basis of milk.

Symptoms

In children under 1 year of age, food allergies are often expressed by diarrhea. Because digestive organs they cannot cope with their “direct duties”, insufficiently digested food residues (after the introduction of complementary foods), curdled milk are noticeable in the feces. Vomiting is sometimes possible, and in newborns it manifests itself in the form of frequent and profuse regurgitation.

In the feces, during a general analysis, erythrocytes, as well as blood streaks, can be detected. This indicates a severe course of allergy, even in the absence of manifestations on the baby's skin, with damage to the intestinal mucosa.

Often the child becomes restless, constantly naughty, presses the legs to the tummy, and therefore many parents mistakenly begin to treat colic. However, such a condition occurs only when milk, especially cow's, or fermented milk products enter the body.

Naturally, mother's milk cannot become the direct cause of allergies, but food products may well, and cow's milk not an exception.

In babies after 1 year, pain in the abdomen (around the navel) after eating any dairy products appears constantly. Such pain attacks last about 20-25 minutes. In addition, a secondary deficiency of digestive enzymes develops, which leads to impaired absorption of gluten and lactose.

On the skin, a “milk” allergy is manifested by the following symptoms:

Eczema- rashes mainly on the cheeks of small bubbles that burst, and erosion occurs in their place. The sores are gradually tightened, forming dense crusts. Such manifestations of allergies appear in babies up to six months.

Hives- Another type of allergic reaction of the immediate type. Blisters appear on the skin, while the child feels severe itching.

Attention! Very rarely, a milk protein allergy can manifest itself as sneezing, allergic rhinitis, and breathing problems. However, some babies may develop laryngospasm, in which the ligaments swell, which is dangerous with further asphyxia (suffocation).

If you experience any symptoms of hypersensitivity to products, you should consult a pediatrician and / or an allergist. The doctor will collect an anamnesis, that is, determine the genetic predisposition of the baby to such reactions, confirm the manifestations of urticaria or atopic dermatitis, if any, find out if there are stool disorders, lack of weight in the child.

After that, additional tests are prescribed to distinguish milk allergy from similar reactions to other products, lactase deficiency. The doctor, as a rule, recommends a coprogram (general analysis of feces), a study of feces for intestinal dysbacteriosis, a blood test for allergens aimed at detecting class E immunoglobulins to milk proteins, and a skin allergy test.

Allergy or lactase deficiency

The manifestations of lactose intolerance (milk sugar) are very similar to those of sensitivity to milk proteins. The child has colic, bloating, frequent regurgitation, upset stool. However, the consistency of the stool changes. It becomes watery and frothy, acquires greenish tint. In this case, often lactase deficiency is combined with an allergy to milk protein.

With lactose intolerance, lactase deficiency is considered the main cause of such symptoms. Under the influence of this enzyme, lactose is broken down in the body into simple carbohydrates, which are completely absorbed. If there is little lactase, milk sugar remains unchanged in the intestine.

To distinguish lactose intolerance from milk allergy, you can do this test. Within 5-7 days, a lactose-free diet should be followed:

artificial babies are recommended to be transferred to a lactose-free mixture (Nennie in goat milk, hydrolyzed FrisoPep AS will do);
at breastfeeding mom observes dairy-free diet.

If the manifestations of allergies become less pronounced or disappear altogether, then the baby has a lactase deficiency. Indeed, with an allergy to milk protein, the symptoms will not go away so quickly, since it will take more than a few days to remove the allergen from the body.

What to do?

Naturally, breastfeeding is ideal for baby. Therefore, all pediatricians recommend sticking to this type of diet for as long as possible, and the manifestations of any allergy are not an excuse for not breastfeeding. Just in this case, mom should stick to hypoallergenic diet.

You will have to give up products containing milk in any form. It's ice cream milk chocolate, butter, as well as nuts, eggs, fish, which also often provoke allergies in children. If allergic manifestations do not have pronounced symptoms, mother can replace milk with fermented milk products (kefir, fermented baked milk, cottage cheese).

The condition of the child will noticeably improve only after a month. If an allergy to milk is confirmed and the diet is ineffective, the child will have to be transferred to special mixtures of deep protein hydrolysis.

Attention! If you are allergic to cow's milk, the same reaction is possible to goat's.

With milk intolerance, you can gradually introduce fermented milk products into the children's menu. So, at 7 months you can introduce homemade yogurt, and at 10 - cottage cheese. The fact is that during fermentation, milk proteins are broken down into simpler amino acids, which are well absorbed.

For artificial kids

As a rule, most adapted mixtures are made on the basis of cow's milk. In view of this, when confirming a "milk" allergy, it is recommended to replace such a mixture with another one, with goat's milk, or with special hydrolysates. Such a diet will have to be followed for about six months.

After that, you can replace the specialized formula with the usual one, but if the allergic manifestations return, you should switch back to hydrolyzed formulas, and the introduction of complementary foods from any dairy products should be postponed for another 6 months.

However, switching to goat milk mixtures does not guarantee getting rid of allergies. Hydrolyzate mixtures are safer, where proteins are broken down to amino acids. In addition, they do not contain gluten and lactose. These are mixtures such as FrisoPep AS, Nutricia Pepticate, Nutrilon Pepti TSC.

With a genetic predisposition to the development of allergies, pediatricians recommend infant formulas with incomplete protein breakdown. These are Nutrilon Hypoallergenic 1 (children up to 6 months), Nutrilon Hypoallergenic 2 (children over 6 months), NAN Hypoallergenic 1 (up to 6 months) and NAN Hypoallergenic 2 (from 6 to 12 months), and also hypoallergenic mixtures from the HiPP, Humana lines.

More specific treatment, whether it is the appointment of antihistamines, ointments or creams, only a doctor should prescribe!

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All information is presented for educational purposes. Do not self-medicate, it is dangerous! An accurate diagnosis can only be made by a doctor.

In 95% of cases intolerance mother's milk in newborns is due to a deficiency of the lactase enzyme responsible for the breakdown milk sugar(lactose). Congenital lactase deficiency is not rare disease and belongs to the category of metabolic pathologies.

Given the data of medical statistics, every 3rd newborn child is faced with a deficiency of this enzyme, which manifests itself in the form of digestive disorders varying degrees intensity. If one infant needs specialized treatment given state, then other babies forget about this state of insufficiency without outside intervention by 4-5 months.

The role of lactase in the child's body

This type of carbohydrate, contained in a woman's breast milk, plays an important role in the formation of the newborn's body and life support in general. it chemical compound is energy resource that meets the needs of a growing organism. The absorption of lactose (milk sugar) is carried out in the lumen of the large intestine, but on the condition that lactase is produced in the body of a newborn baby in the required amount.

In addition to replenishment energy needs milk sugar promotes the absorption of such chemical components as magnesium, potassium, manganese. Due to the presence of lactose in the lumen of the large intestine, favorable conditions for reproduction are created. beneficial microflora.

In adulthood, the problem of lactase deficiency is solved by eliminating whole milk from the diet. For a newborn baby, mother's breast milk is the main source of nutrients, so the problem of its intolerance is acute.

Deficiency classification

Deficiency of this enzyme can be provoked by both external and internal factors. In modern medical practice This condition is classified into the following types:

Primary insufficiency. This type of lactase deficiency does not have the characteristic clinical manifestations in newborns, so the main signs of this condition tend to make themselves felt as they grow older.
secondary insufficiency. This metabolic pathology develops in a newborn child against the background of past illnesses gastrointestinal tract. Such diseases include rotavirus infection, gastroenteritis and colitis.
Genetically determined intolerance to breast milk. This condition occurs against the background of congenital developmental anomalies. Pathology is characterized by rapid progression and severe course. With a genetically determined intolerance, milk sugar is detected in the urine of the child.

Symptoms of intolerance

The symptoms of this pathology are dominated by signs of disorders digestive function. Each newborn baby is characterized by an individual severity of the clinical picture.

Symptoms of breast milk intolerance include:

foamed liquid stool having a sour smell;
Excessive formation of gas in the intestines of the child, which is fraught with the appearance of colic;
Frequent regurgitation of breast milk after feeding;
Symptoms of dehydration (dehydration). Dryness is one of these symptoms. skin and mucous membranes, lethargy, weight loss and rare episodes of urination;
Frequent tearfulness, emotional arousal, whims and refusal of the child to breastfeed;
Slow weight gain or its sharp decrease.

Some babies are characterized skin signs maternal milk intolerance. These symptoms include atopic dermatitis.

Breast milk intolerance can be recognized by the following additional signs:

Visual muscle tension in the anterior abdominal wall in a baby, visible bloating;
During attachment to the breast, the baby abruptly refuses even before the moment of saturation;
When holding the child in their arms, parents can hear rumbling in the intestines;
In the feces of a newborn, particles of undigested food are noted.

The diagnosis of milk intolerance is made on the basis of complaints from parents, a general examination of the child, and also taking into account the results of laboratory and instrumental examinations.

Diagnostics

In order to confirm the diagnosis of breast milk intolerance, a newborn baby will be prescribed the following medical examination options:

Clinical blood test and evaluation of the lactase curve. For the purpose of this study the child is given a minimum dosage of milk sugar, after which blood is taken for testing for lactase levels.
Clinical examination of neonatal feces for carbohydrates. This technique can be attributed to outdated methods for diagnosing lactase deficiency. Little information content this method due to the fact that during the analysis it is difficult to distinguish fragments of glucose from lactose or galactose.
Carrying out a hydrogen test of the air exhaled by the child. This technique is highly informative and meets safety standards. In order to identify lactase deficiency, an assessment of the air exhaled by the child is carried out. The disadvantage of the hydrogen test is the impossibility of carrying it out in babies under 3 months old.
Biochemical analysis of intestinal microflora.
Evaluation of milk sugar content in urine samples.
Mucosal biopsy small intestine. The level of information content of this method is at least 90%. A serious disadvantage of biopsy is the need for general anesthesia.

As auxiliary methods for diagnosing maternal milk intolerance, gluten intolerance analysis is used, as well as the detection of antibodies to cow's milk proteins.

Treatment

Maximum effect from drug therapy wherein pathological condition seen in children born ahead of time. If this condition is of a secondary nature, the newborn baby is prescribed bacterial drugs that stimulate the production of this enzyme.

For the purpose of restoring normal microflora large intestine infants are prescribed the drug Bifidumbacterin in the form of a powder for dilution. Bifidumbacterin is prescribed for babies from the first days of life. Before the start natural production lactase by the child's body, the baby is prescribed enzyme replacement therapy. This group of medicines is intended for dilution in a small portion of breast milk before each feeding of the newborn.

In addition to specialized medical assistance it is important for a young mother to reconsider the technique of natural feeding. Only the anterior portions of breast milk should not enter the body of a child with lactase deficiency. With frequent attachment to the breast and its incomplete emptying in children's body a large amount of milk sugar enters, which provokes digestive disorders. Before each feeding, a woman should express foremilk.

Lactose is the main carbohydrate found in dairy products. It consists of glucose as well as galactose. When lactose is broken down, the enzyme lactase is released. Lactase deficiency in the body is the root cause of lactose intolerance.

This condition in a child can be genetically determined, that is, inherited. It usually occurs in preterm infants and in underweight infants.

Older children usually develop secondary lactose intolerance, which occurs as a result of chronic or acute illness. The causes of intolerance can be:

intestinal infections;
allergy to cow's milk protein;
inflammation in the intestines;
celiac.

Thus, the factors provoking the development of this condition include:

ethnicity;
heredity;
premature birth;
pathologies affecting small intestine, in which the process of splitting lactose and its synthesis is carried out.

Symptoms

Signs of lactose intolerance in young children usually show up in stool patterns. It has a pronounced sour smell and a watery texture. In infants, the pathology also manifests itself in the form of frequent and severe regurgitation, flatulence, whims during feeding, refusal of the breast or bottle.

Often, older children fall behind in physical development from peers: they grow poorly and increase in weight a little. Moreover, they may experience a decrease in muscle tone and convulsive seizures.

Also among the clinical manifestations of lactose intolerance in older children is the rumbling of the abdomen and flatulence. In some cases, there are pains in the umbilical region: they are spasmodic in nature.

Lactose intolerance can, among other things, cause irritability, frequent shifts mood and increased fatigue in the child.

Diagnosis of lactose intolerance in a child

Lactose intolerance in children is diagnosed based on clinical manifestations. If necessary, the child is assigned additional methods examinations, for example, in order to identify the pathology that provoked this condition.

As a rule, diet diagnostics is used, during which products containing lactose are excluded from the child's diet. After that, they look at the clinical picture and conduct a fecal analysis. If the symptoms improve and the pH level of the stool is normal and higher, then the child really has a lactase deficiency.

Also, children can be prescribed a chromotagrographic study, which will allow you to choose an adequate diet.

Complications

Secondary lactase deficiency has practically no consequences. Over time, the child's body will begin to absorb any dairy products normally. After 6-7 months, lactose intolerance will completely disappear.

With primary pathology, lactose intolerance will persist for life. But absolute lactase intolerance is rare, so babies with lactase intolerance can still consume some milk. Signs of pathology will begin to appear only if the rate is increased. It is determined individually in each case.

Sometimes primary lactose intolerance is combined with secondary. In this case, the state of the intestinal microflora should be under constant control.

Treatment

What can you do

Parents of children with lactose intolerance should take care of special nutrition for a child. It should include low-lactose products, in the amount that is appropriate for the child according to his age. Also, lactic acid products can be included in the diet: usually children with lactase deficiency tolerate them quite well.

You can not use condensed or concentrated milk, drugs in which lactose is present. If signs of a condition appear, the child should be shown to a doctor who will diagnose and prescribe adequate treatment.

What does a doctor do

In the case when lactose intolerance develops as a secondary pathology, the doctor treats the underlying disease. In this case, the child is assigned special diet. If it is possible to achieve remission or recovery, they usually begin to gradually expand the list of foods included in the diet. At the same time, the clinical picture of the disease is constantly monitored, and the necessary tests are carried out.

In primary lactose intolerance, children are prescribed a diet that they must adhere to throughout their lives. Such a diet, according to medical practice, does not cause any particular inconvenience.

For children who are over a year old, milk is advised to replace products with low content lactose and sour milk. Confectionery products with milk fillers are also excluded from the diet. In some cases, children are given drugs with a lactose enzyme, which are taken in combination with dairy products.

Prevention

There are a number of preventive measures that can prevent the development of lactose intolerance in children. Among them:

timely treatment of any intestinal infections and pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract;
compliance with hygiene rules;
proper feeding of newborns.

to secondary preventive measures include following a diet based on the use of products with a low content of lactose or none at all. This will help avoid the symptoms of lactase deficiency.

In general, it is impossible to exclude foods with lactose from the diet, as this will reduce the amount of calcium entering the child's body.

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Arm yourself with knowledge and read a useful informative article about lactose intolerance in children. After all, being parents means studying everything that will help maintain the degree of health in the family at the level of “36.6”.

Find out what can cause the disease, how to recognize it in a timely manner. Find information about what are the signs by which you can determine the malaise. And what tests will help to identify the disease and make the correct diagnosis.

In the article, you will read all about the methods of treating a disease such as lactose intolerance in children. Specify what effective first aid should be. What to treat: choose medications or folk methods?

You will also find out what can be dangerous untimely treatment lactose intolerance in children, and why it is so important to avoid the consequences. All about how to prevent lactose intolerance in children and prevent complications.

And caring parents will find on the pages of the service full information about the symptoms of lactose intolerance in children. How do the signs of the disease in children at 1.2 and 3 years old differ from the manifestations of the disease in children at 4, 5, 6 and 7 years old? What is the best way to treat lactose intolerance in children?

Take care of the health of your loved ones and be in good shape!

Lactose intolerance is a disorder in the digestive tract, which is characterized by complete or partial lactose intolerance. This pathological process is due to the lack of an enzyme that is responsible for the processing of dairy products - lactase. The first symptoms may appear in adolescence and adulthood. It should be noted that lactose intolerance in newborns is extremely rare.

Etiology

Lactose intolerance can be caused by the following etiological factors:

genetic predisposition;
acute intestinal infections;
allergy to gluten and milk proteins;
previously transferred gastroenterological pathologies or the presence of such ailments in a chronic form.

Clinicians report that most this pathology due to a genetic predisposition or previous acute infectious processes GIT. It should be noted that in an infant, such a violation may be temporary, since the child's body cannot yet fully produce lactase.

Symptoms

In this case, the manifestation of the clinical picture and its intensity depends on the degree of lactase production. In most cases, symptoms of lactose intolerance appear within 30 minutes to 2 hours after eating dairy products.

The signs of lactose intolerance are as follows:

rumbling and bloating;
general discomfort;
, often with seizures ;
pain and cramps (with complete lactose intolerance).

The intensity of the manifestation of the clinical picture depends on the degree of lactose intolerance in adults or children. In addition, it should be understood that such a reaction of the body to dairy products may be due to a poor-quality product, product incompatibility, and similar factors. If this clinical picture appears every time after drinking milk and products containing them, then you should consult a doctor for advice.

Lactose intolerance in children can be supplemented by the following symptoms:

vomiting after eating;
capriciousness;
loss of appetite.

As a rule, symptoms appear immediately after eating.

Diagnostics

First of all, the doctor conducts a physical examination of the patient, with the clarification of complaints, anamnesis of life and medical history. Also, during the initial examination, the doctor should find out how the patient ate in recent days, whether he took any medications. For staging accurate diagnosis the following laboratory and instrumental examination methods are prescribed:

general and biochemical blood test;
blood sugar test;
stool acidity analysis;
analysis for lactose intolerance;
biopsy of the intestinal mucosa;
lactase testing - lactose is orally administered to determine the pathological process;
analysis of feces for the amount of fat.

It should be noted that biopsy for suspected lactose intolerance in children is extremely rare. The treatment program is prescribed only after the diagnosis is accurately established and the etiology of the clinical picture is revealed.

Treatment

Treatment is prescribed only by a doctor after an accurate diagnosis. As such, medicinal specific therapy no. If the patient has a disorder in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, then the following drugs can be prescribed:

to improve gastric motility;
to stabilize the chair;
antiemetics;
myotropic antispasmodics.

It should be understood that with such a diagnosis, compliance with the rules of nutrition should not be symptomatic, but permanent. Therefore, the doctor must prescribe dietary therapy, taking into account individual features organism and general clinical picture.

Some foods contain “hidden lactose”, and their consumption is also highly undesirable. These products include the following:

serum;
dairy by-products;
skimmed milk;
cottage cheese;
powdered milk;
dairy sausages;
industrial sauces;
confectionery.

Lactose intolerance does not mean that a person is strictly prohibited products with the minimum amount of this substance. With such an ailment, you can use the following products:

yogurt with live bacteria;
foods containing lactose;
soy cheese and milk.

Due to the fact that milk gives the body such important element, like calcium, and its deficiency can adversely affect health, the following foods should be included in the diet:

broccoli and kale;
canned tuna, salmon, sardines;
soy products;
cereals;
almond.

Lactose intolerance in children or adults requires not only proper nutrition, but also the use of certain medications. The doctor may prescribe the following:

"Lactase baby" - special capsules that contain the enzyme necessary for milk processing;
"Linex" or "Hilak-forte" - probiotics to improve lactase production;
"Pancreatin" - as auxiliary enzymes that improve digestion.

It should be remembered that the dosage and duration of taking drugs is prescribed only by the attending physician. It is impossible to make any adjustments to the course of treatment at your own discretion, even if you feel better.

Forecast

If you follow all the recommendations of the doctor and the rules of diet therapy, then any complications are excluded. Otherwise, the development of gastroenterological pathologies is possible, which will be due to the constant exposure of the body to an intolerable substance.

Prevention

There is no cure for this disease. specific prevention. However, it is possible to significantly reduce the risk of developing such a pathology if all acute intestinal infections are treated in a timely and correct manner and eat right. Also, do not forget about the systematic passage preventive examination from medical professionals.

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Diseases with similar symptoms:

Intestinal obstruction is a severe pathological process, which is characterized by a violation of the process of release of substances from the intestine. This disease most often affects people who are vegetarians. There are dynamic and mechanical intestinal obstruction. If the first symptoms of the disease are detected, it is necessary to go to the surgeon. Only he can accurately prescribe treatment. Without timely assistance doctor, the patient may die.

Intestinal dolichosigma is an abnormal condition in which there is an elongation of the sigmoid colon (the final calving of the large intestine, which ends with the rectum). In some cases, dolichosigma can occur without any unpleasant symptoms throughout a person's life. In this case, clinicians consider this a variant of the norm and a structural feature of the body. But still, more often, the elongated sigmoid colon gives a person a lot of inconvenience - there are unpleasant symptoms that complicate life. It is worth noting that dolichosigma can develop in adults and children. There are also no gender restrictions.

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Sometimes babies, due to a number of factors, do not receive mother's healthy milk and are forced to eat an adapted mixture. Such crumbs are more likely to suffer from food allergies. Children on chest type breastfeeding are more protected in this regard and have negative allergic reactions much less frequently. The body of the crumbs, eating mother's milk, can also sometimes "rebel" when the mother drinks milk.

Formula-fed babies are often prone to food allergies

Allergy to lactose is quite rare. Only 5-7% of children suffer from such a predisposition. This can be due to two reasons: milk intolerance or an allergy to milk protein. The first problem is due to the inability of the baby's body to digest cow's milk, namely the protein - casein. In the second case, this protein is perceived by the immune system as foreign and the production of antibodies begins to protect against it.

Allergies can be caused by two main factors:

Relative or complete lactase deficiency. The baby's body lacks lactase - a special enzyme that can break down lactose, that is, milk sugar. Animal protein in this case is only partially broken down, and a number of molecules fall into the category of harmful and are perceived negatively by the body.
Intolerance to the protein of cow, goat, sheep and other milk.

Children's digestive tract is very sensitive to allergens various kinds. Any type of food, except for breast milk, is perceived by the crumbs as extremely difficult.

In the intestines of the baby, there is still no beneficial microflora, it is characterized by friability and immaturity. The stomach and intestines become stronger around the age of two and learn to confidently resist the effects of harmful organisms.

Before two years of age the baby's stomach best perceives mother's milk

A child is more susceptible to allergic reactions if:

a nursing mother is prone to allergies;
residence of a pregnant woman in areas with poor environmental conditions (excess of exhaust gases, emissions from enterprises, "harmful" work);
there were dangers and diseases during pregnancy (fetal hypoxia, risk of interruption, stress, preeclampsia, etc.).

Summing up all of the above, we get information that external conditions greatly affect the child's predisposition to allergies. For birth healthy baby everything is important - good environmental conditions, proper nutrition future mother, genetic prerequisites, existing bad habits of one of the family members, the age of the woman in labor, the process of bearing. Children who receive an adapted formula instead of mother's milk, in the presence of such deviations, should eat mixtures in which there is no milk or it is replaced by vegetable options (oat, rice, soy, coconut, and others).

The negative response of the body is noticeable, as a rule, not immediately. One intake of a dairy product usually does not give such a reaction. Allergy manifests itself when eating products for the second time. Each organism is unique, so the rate of propagation of the reaction will be different: from one hour to two days. This circumstance should be taken into account when visiting a doctor to make a correct diagnosis.

For infants, the following allergic manifestations on the skin are characteristic:

flaky areas;

Peeling skin is one of the signs of an allergy.

sores, eczema;
itchy sensations;
rash;
areas of redness on the face, chest, as manifestations of atopic dermatitis (a photo of what dermatitis looks like can be found on the Internet);
swelling of the head and neck - Quincke's edema.

The digestive organs can give a negative response with the following symptoms:

colic, diarrhea, sour stool odor, bloating;
profuse regurgitation;
pain in the abdomen;
nausea and vomiting;
decreased appetite.

The respiratory system can also fail with allergies:

runny or stuffy nose;
cough;
wheezing when breathing, heavy breathing;
wheezing.

On the part of the respiratory system, allergies are manifested by a runny nose and sneezing.

It happens that the baby is allergic to cow protein appears like this:

weight gain stops and this indicator lags behind the norms;
in rare cases anaphylactic shock occurs.

It is very difficult for an ignorant person to understand the true cause of allergies. Only an experienced allergist can assess the condition of the baby, prescribe a series of tests and tests, and then make a diagnosis.

Rash, dryness and irritation on the skin are the main companions of food allergies. Understanding whether milk or other food caused such a reaction is quite simple. You can find the culprit of allergic manifestations by keeping a food diary: you need to abolish all dairy products and mixtures in your diet.

If there are other symptoms of allergy (digestive, respiratory), diagnostics should be carried out only in laboratory conditions. To establish the true "culprit", tests are needed for the reaction of immunoglobulin E to different products, skin tests.

Gathering information on family predisposition can help to understand whether milk is the cause of the allergy. When a family member has a milk intolerance, it is very likely that the child will have a similar problem.

If adult family members suffer from milk intolerance, the baby may also have it.

To determine whether a child has a lactase deficiency or the cause lies in an allergy to protein, you can use a test that doctors usually recommend. For the duration of the diet, all foods with lactase should be excluded from the menu:

artificial type of feeding involves the transition to lactose-free adapted mixtures;
during lactation, lactose products are completely excluded from the diet of a nursing mother;
for older children, nutrition is regulated, excluding any milk-based products from the menu.

Seeing that during this time the baby did not have any negative reactions, a conclusion is made about lactase deficiency. With an existing protein allergy, the symptoms do not disappear immediately, but disappear gradually day after day.

It is infancy that most often suggests the appearance of an allergy to protein. This disease usually resolves by the age of three. In the case of lactase deficiency, we can talk not only about the congenital form, but also about the acquired form. The baby may begin to suffer from this disease as a result of rotavirus infection or as a result of intestinal lyambiosis. In the last two cases, the disease can be cured with the help of a diet.

Acquired intolerance can be cured with a specially selected diet

Most of the dry infant formula offered today is made on the basis of cow's milk. When a child is allergic to it and at the same time eats artificially, ideal option mixtures will be based on goat milk or hydrolyzed versions. Such a transition should be made for at least six months, then you can again try to return to your usual diet. If symptoms recur, hydrolyzate mixtures should be re-introduced. The next attempt is made in another 6 months.

Goat milk mixtures, such as "Nanny", "Goat", are well absorbed by the child's body, but their price is higher compared to conventional mixtures. It is important for parents to know that changing the mixture does not guarantee that the problem will not arise again. The situation may repeat now with goat's milk.

Hydrolyzate mixtures are based on proteins cleaved to dipeptides. Lactose in such mixtures, as a rule, is not present, due to which they are well absorbed. There are the following types of hydrolyzate mixtures:

used when there are very severe forms allergic manifestations: "Frisopep AS", "Frisopep", "Nutrilon Pepti TSC";

mixtures based on partially hydrolyzed protein are considered preventive: Nutrilon GA, NAN GA;
prescribed for lactase intolerance and to prevent the onset of allergies: HiPP GA, Nutrilak GA, Humana GA.

An older child should not be introduced to milk and products containing it. Strongly allergenic products, such as cottage cheese, nuts, fish, eggs, must be introduced into the diet with a long delay relative to the existing norms.

When profuse and itchy rashes occur, ointments should not be neglected, which are able to reduce discomfort. When using antihistamines, one should choose those that minimally affect the central nervous system (desloratadine).

Sorbents are capable of removing protein from the stomach and intestines. These drugs should be used no longer than 2-3 days, otherwise there is a risk of constipation in the baby.

most best food for the baby is breast milk. It contains enzymes that help the body absorb food almost 100%. Pediatricians and breastfeeding experts strongly recommend keeping lactation as long as possible, especially when the baby has allergies. In this case, the doctor prescribes a low-allergenic diet to the nursing mother. The diet should not contain lactose or products that contain its minimum dose: condensed milk, cream, chocolate, pastries, butter, dry soups, milk or cream, ice cream.

Mom during the GV period will have to exclude even harmless ice cream

A lactating woman who has an allergic child should responsibly approach a complete change in her diet. Small doses of milk, which are usually recommended during lactation, should be completely canceled. When a lactose allergy in a crumb is not very strong manifestations, the doctor may suggest trying to drink fermented baked milk, yogurt, kefir and eat cottage cheese. Tangible effect will be noticeable in about 3 weeks. Seeing that the diet does not bring visible results, doctors sometimes advise transferring the baby to artificial mixtures produced by deep protein hydrolysis.

It is possible that a child with cow's milk protein intolerance will have a similar reaction to goat protein. When doctors have determined that a baby's lactose allergy is severe, they may recommend limiting the intake of nuts, fish, and eggs.

Milk intolerance does not put an end to all dairy products. It is allowed to introduce fermented milk products into complementary foods, but this should be done with extreme caution. Start with kefir and do it no earlier than 7 months. As an alternative, homemade yogurt, which can be based on any type of milk, is great. Children over 10 months of age should start introducing cottage cheese. Children will be able to eat eggs and fish closer to a year. Dr. Komarovsky, however, generally recommends starting complementary foods with fermented milk products.

Why are dairy products less allergenic? The fact is that they all undergo hydrolysis - a reaction when the protein is broken down into simpler compounds (amino acids), and they are absorbed much easier and faster. There are almost no allergens in such compounds.

You need to buy store-bought curds with caution, even for children, as they can also cause allergies. It is optimal to feed children with self-cooked cottage cheese. In a glass of milk you need to put a tablespoon of sour cream, stir and let stand for several hours not in the refrigerator. As soon as the product is already slightly sour, it should be put on fire, having previously poured into a saucepan. You need to heat the milk until the curd begins to separate from the whey. Using a spoon, gather the curd into cheesecloth and let the excess liquid drain. Squeeze the resulting cottage cheese and enjoy natural product. Store the product in the refrigerator for no more than a day.

As soon as the enzyme and immune systems complete their formation, allergic manifestations disappear. With an existing rash or other allergic manifestations, milk should be completely excluded from baby food. You can replace cow's milk in the menu, to which the child is allergic, with hypoallergenic milk. bright representative his in Russia is goat's milk. You can buy it in farm shops or in large supermarkets. It costs about 150 rudders per liter.

To replace cow's milk, you can buy goat's milk in the store

Those who wish can choose alternative options for animal milk. Herbal products will also be appropriate:

Soy. Beans are a storehouse of protein and minerals. To prepare the drink, soak the beans in water and boil, then grind with a blender. After straining the puree, you get soy milk.
Oats. It contains many vitamins and minerals. It is advisable to take oats in the husk for cooking. Rinse the cereals and boil in water for about an hour. After straining the porridge, as a result you will get oat milk.
Rice. Milk is prepared simply: rice is boiled in water, and when ready, it is ground with a blender and filtered.

Such recipes can make a child's diet on a diet more varied. If possible and desired, pamper the baby with new products.

Medications

Allergy is a reason to act and act actively. Waiting for further manifestations can be dangerous, because it is not uncommon for cases anaphylactic shock. As soon as you notice the first signs of an allergy, you should immediately treat the baby by giving him antihistamine. Always be guided by the age restrictions indicated by the manufacturer:

Suprastin tablets are not suitable for newborns under one month old

Suprastin tablets can be used for children from 1 month old, the maximum dose per day is ¼ tablet;
Fenistil drops are recommended for children over one month old, no more than 30 drops can be given per day to a child under one year old, a single volume - 3-10 drops;
Peritol syrup is suitable for babies older than 6 months; the dosage is calculated individually according to the attached instructions, based on the weight of the baby;
Zyrtec drops are recommended for children older than six months, they should be dosed as follows: 5 drops once a day.

Important information! Newborn babies under 1 month of age should use any antiallergic drugs strictly under the supervision of a doctor.

When the allergy manifested itself already in the first two hours after taking the "harmful" product, you can use the help of enterosorbents. Such drugs are able to capture and remove the allergenic product from the body.

For children of any age, Dr. Komarovsky recommends the following drugs:

Enterosgel. You should take half a teaspoon of the drug, after diluting it in breast milk or in water. The medicine should be taken up to 6 times a day before each meal.
Polysorb. The dose is calculated according to the weight of the child: with a body weight of up to 10 kg, the daily volume of the drug should range from 0.5 to 1.5 teaspoons.
Smekta. Take 1 sachet per day.

Enterosgel is perfect for detoxification of the child's body

The milk type of allergy in most cases affects the skin. Children's skin is covered with a rash, redness, characteristic of atopic dermatitis. The surface of the epidermis loses its moisture and becomes dry, cracked, itchy. Parents should protect damaged children's skin as much as possible and help it regenerate faster. Some parents mistakenly believe that it is impossible to bathe babies during an exacerbation of allergic manifestations, but in fact the truth is the opposite.

Children simply need daily hygiene to moisturize and cleanse the skin. Bath procedures it is better to spend at least 20 minutes. Over this time outer layer the skin will have time to fully absorb water.
Keep the water temperature around 35°C.
It is better to refrain from washcloths at this time, and do not rub the skin with a towel, just get it slightly wet.

It is likely that you are allergic to milk child will pass by itself for the first three years. The digestive organs, the formation of enzymes, the functioning of the immune system - everything comes to a more perfect phase, which means that the body becomes stronger and more resistant to external stimuli. The baby's body is already able to independently break down sugar into galactose and glucose. Protein in such a digested state is not capable of harming the child's body.

The relative form of lactase deficiency can pass with time and with the growing up of the child, but if there is complete lactose intolerance, this pathology will remain with the baby for life. To compensate for the lack of calcium in such crumbs, it is important for parents to consider other ways to obtain this mineral.

One of the types of negative reactions of the immune system is an allergy to milk in a child. Young children are more susceptible to the disease. it serious disease, which can cause in children over 1 year of age an allergy to the consumption of cow's and goat's milk.

Appeals to doctors about this have become more frequent. This disease is diagnosed in 5% of children, since milk protein is a fairly common food allergen.

It is necessary to distinguish between an allergy to cow protein and its intolerance. In the first case, the body sees it as a foreign element and begins to defend itself, and in the second case, the problem is the poor digestibility of dairy products. The reaction in children to cow's milk protein is manifested in skin rashes on the face, disorders of the digestive and respiratory systems.

Skin symptoms:

peeling of the skin;
the appearance of a milk scab, eczema;
feeling of itching;
rash (urticaria);
large red spots on the surfaces of the skin of the face, chest - atopic dermatitis;
rapidly increasing swelling in the neck and head area - Quincke's edema.

In a relationship digestive disorders Allergy to cow's milk in children is manifested by:

intestinal disorders - colic, constipation, diarrhea, flatulence;
pain in the abdomen;
nausea, vomiting.

The respiratory tract responds to the effects of bovine protein:

nasal congestion;
cough;
labored, wheezing breathing;
runny nose;
wheezing.

All these reactions occur immediately when the protein enters the child's body and appear both individually and in combination. A delayed reaction may be diarrhea or itching of the skin, which will appear after a few days.

Attention should be paid to such anxiety symptoms, like Quincke's edema and a rash, the spread of which is rapid. Such conditions are life-threatening for children and require urgent appeal to the doctors.

Another factor that causes parents to fear for the health and life of the baby is the presence of barking cough, dry wheezing, wheezing. Need medical help.

Allergy to milk in a child is manifested in early age often up to a year. With proper treatment, it disappears by about 5 years, and only occasionally persists for life.

If the disease does not go away by this age, problems with the transition of allergies to other forms of the disease, especially dangerous bronchial asthma, are not ruled out.

Allergy to goat milk in children is much less common. Its features include:

rash, skin eczema;
inflammation of the eyes, nasal mucosa;
itching in the mouth (rare);
hard breath.

The specific taste and smell that goat's milk has causes rejection in many children; it is difficult to feed food based on it. Experts believe that the body feels that this product can become a potential allergen, so you should not feed your child with food containing such milk if he refuses. The cause of an allergy to goat's milk is considered a hereditary factor, a weak immune system of the child.

The correct diagnosis of an allergy to cow's or goat's milk can only be made complex method. Clinical picture disease is compiled by a pediatrician after visual inspection child. Attention is drawn to the presence in the anamnesis of parents of such an allergy.

After a full study, in the evaluation external manifestations allergies, the presence of concomitant diseases ( chronic problems with the intestines, atopic dermatitis, anemia, etc.), the doctor prescribes a series of tests to the patient - urine, feces, blood, prick test skin tests, which will help to exclude similar diseases. Of particular importance is a blood test for allergy tests, which allows to detect immunoglobulin E to cow's milk protein.

Often, milk allergy is diagnosed by exclusion, when dairy products are temporarily removed from the child's menu. If, after the start of their use, the symptoms of this disease reappear, then the test is considered positive, indicating the presence of an allergy to milk protein.

The treatment consists primarily in the use of sorbents that remove allergens. They circulate throughout the body, causing an allergic reaction in any of the organs. Treatment depends on where the negative reaction occurs.

Children after a year often complain of short-term, but recurring pain in the navel area if they continue to be fed dairy products. Worried about bowel problems. Lack of bifidobacteria leads to dysbacteriosis. Treatment of all problems of the gastrointestinal tract is carried out with the help of probiotics. Doctors recommend temporarily replacing milk in the children's diet with fermented milk products.

Respiratory system

With milk allergy, the respiratory organs are affected less frequently. An allergic rhinitis may appear. Dangerous development of laryngospasm, which is indicated by wheezing, shortness of breath. The child may suffocate if not given immediate medical attention. Sometimes allergies lead to bronchial asthma, the treatment of which will be prescribed by a specialist.

In any case, the reaction to cow's milk protein should be eliminated. professional doctors, self-medication is unacceptable.

Although in most children the allergy to dairy products disappears by 3-5 years with the development of the immune and enzymatic systems, some have to follow a diet before all manifestations of the disease disappear. Recommendations on how to feed a sick child and what should be excluded from his diet are given by a specialist.

Only a doctor can determine the allergen, given its hidden presence in the composition of other products and the presence of cross-allergy. According to medical statistics, children with an allergy to cow protein and dairy products in 90% of cases have the same reaction to goat milk.

There are vegetable types of milk - soy, rice, oatmeal, which can replace milk from animals. Such a diet will make the children's menu more varied and useful. If there is no allergy to goat's milk, then you can replace the usual cow's milk with it, give your child water or feed it with cereals prepared on its basis.

Goat milk is also added to tea for better absorption. It is recommended to stick to a diet for about 1-2 years, during which the formation of the immune system takes place, and the child simply “outgrows” this type of allergy.

A good substitute for any milk can be sour-milk products, not allergic. In the process of fermentation, the protein will break down into simple amino acids, which are much better digested, leaving virtually no allergens.

The child can be given kefir, yogurt, which can be based on cow or goat milk. They usually do not cause gastrointestinal upset. Selection proper diet guaranteed to improve the patient's condition and the outcome of the disease.

The main concern with milk allergy is skin damage, especially atopic dermatitis, in which moisture is lost in it, the skin becomes dry with microcracks, itching, and its protective properties are lost. That's why it's important to ensure proper care behind the skin.

There is misconception that during an exacerbation of an allergy it is impossible to bathe children. On the contrary, they require daily bathing to cleanse and moisturize the skin. It is better to bathe in a bath for at least 20 minutes, so that the stratum corneum of the skin has time to be saturated with water.

It should be settled, warm, about 35 ° C. You can not use washcloths, and after bathing, do not wipe the body strongly, just get it slightly wet. For such patients, special detergents with anti-inflammatory action.

An important aspect of skin care is its moisturizing to restore damaged protective properties. Usage modern means for the care of atopic skin helps to slightly compensate for the defects of the epidermis.

Under the direction of pediatrician you can choose the most effective means, which will help suppress allergic inflammation. Skin treatment will require long periods of time, attention from parents, active assistance doctors.

The main problem of allergies is the immaturity of the gastrointestinal tract, the weakness of the child's immune system. In most cases, the reaction is caused by cow's milk, occasionally - goat's, sheep's. The main cause of an allergy to milk is the presence of casein in it - a protein that settles in the form of a curd formation when milk coagulates. The immune system perceives casein as a foreign body, starting to produce antibodies, which leads to an allergy to the protein.

A direct connection between childhood milk allergy and a history of parental negative reaction to protein has also been established. If one of the parents had this kind of allergy in childhood, then the probability of a problem in a child will be 30%. Both parents with this disease increase the chance of a baby having an overreaction to milk by up to 80%.

But an allergy can be in a child with healthy parents. The disease is called malnutrition at weak immunity. Negative influence bad ecology in the child's place of residence can have a negative impact on the child's body. Allergies are sometimes provoked by the presence of antibiotics in the milk of a pet.

Sour-milk products - various curds, kefir, cheese rarely cause allergies. The reason for it is individual intolerance, weakened immunity. Most often, it manifests itself due to additives in these products. Be careful when purchasing them for baby food, supplements can be aggressive.

Most often, cow's milk allergy is confused with lactase deficiency, which is a congenital defect of the enzymatic digestive system. It is characterized by insufficient production in the intestines of the enzyme responsible for the breakdown of milk sugar.

A child with such a problem creates intolerance to any milk. Both diseases have similar symptoms, manifested in diarrhea, colic, flatulence.

You can distinguish them by conducting a test for lactase deficiency, which for a child of the age of one year consists in excluding dairy products from the menu. If there are no symptoms in the coming days, then this means that they are not allergic to protein. Read more about the nutrition of babies with lactase deficiency →

Gastrointestinal allergies to milk often resemble reactions to other foods or intestinal infections. At severe symptoms diseases of the upper respiratory systems (runny nose, bronchitis) milk allergy in a child can also be perceived as a consequence of these diseases, so it is important to distinguish them.

An allergy to any type of milk, subject to a diet, most often ends at an early age - by the age of 5, which is explained by the development of the child's digestive system by this age. Only in 15% of children, often with other allergic reactions, the disease persists.

Scientists conducted an experiment related to milk allergy. Giving the child an increasing portion of milk every day, they noticed a decrease in skin manifestations. And they concluded that such training of the immune system will gradually get rid of the disease.

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For some people, persistent dislike for milk is not associated with taste preferences and whims, but with the state of their body. The use of even a few sips of milk entails the appearance different symptoms: from mild bloating to temporary violations psyche. The most common cause of such intolerance is lactase deficiency.

The main sugar in human and mammalian milk is lactose. For its splitting into molecules of galactose and glucose (they are absorbed from the intestines into the blood), nature has created a special enzyme - lactase (its full name is lactase-phlorizin-hydrolase). With its lack or absence, insufficiently digested lactose passes further into the large intestine and becomes food for bacteria there. These microbes digest lactose to form excess gases and water.

In the young of many animals, after the completion of their breastfeeding and the transition to another type of food, the production of this enzyme in the intestine stops, as it is unnecessary for further life. Therefore, some scientists even believe that maintaining tolerance (normal tolerance) to milk in people older than 2 years is not quite the norm, but the result of gene mutations that occurred many millennia ago. Scientific men explain the occurrence of these genetic breakdowns by the development of dairy farming. They also connect this hypothesis with the existing ethnic differences in the frequency of lactase deficiency. So, it is practically absent among the indigenous people of Northern Europe, Mongolia and India. But its frequency exceeds 70% in Hispanics, Asians, Israelis and American Indians. In Russia, lactase deficiency is detected in approximately 16% of the population.

Lactase deficiency is divided into:

congenital (primary, neonatal alactasia);
acquired (secondary).

Congenital lactase deficiency is usually associated with genetic disorders. The reasons for the secondary deficiency of this enzyme can be:

viral gastroenteritis;
bacterial intestinal infections;
giardiasis;
food allergy;
Crohn's disease;
amyloidosis;
Whipple's disease;
celiac disease;
ulcerative colitis.

Such lactase deficiency may disappear in case of recovery or remission of the listed ailments. It, as a rule, is partial (i.e., the patient can quite satisfactorily tolerate some amount of milk and sour-milk products).

The severity of clinical signs of lactase deficiency is extremely variable. It is due to the degree of enzyme deficiency (its complete or partial absence) and the amount of lactose in the food consumed by patients.

Congenital lactase deficiency is most severely manifested, which is often characterized by a complete absence of lactose in the body (alactasia). Already 1-2 hours after the first intake of milk (breast, cow, etc.) or milk formulas, the baby has:

diarrhea (watery, frothy, profuse stools with a sour smell);
pronounced bloating;
rumbling;
colic;
vomit.

Further feeding aggravates the symptoms, there are signs of dehydration, sweating, tachycardia, and weight loss increases.

In adults, hypolactasia (partial deficiency) is still more often observed, therefore these phenomena are less colorful and occur only after drinking 1–1.5 glasses of milk. In addition, extraintestinal symptoms are possible:

weakness;
chills;
dizziness;
pain and a feeling of interruption in the work of the heart.

If you stop eating lactose-containing products, then all clinical symptoms disappear after 3-4 hours.

In many cases, no special diagnostic procedures are required to verify lactase deficiency. After all, the appearance of complaints is clearly associated with the intake of milk or various dairy products, and removing them from the diet leads to a normalization of well-being. But in controversial cases, doctors may advise the following examination:

assessment of lactase activity in samples of the mucosa (biopsy) of the small intestine (biopsy is obtained during endoscopic examination: fibrogastroduodenoscopy or fibroenteroscopy);
genetic blood test;
breath test (hydrogen);
stress lactose test;
determination of galactose in urine and blood.

The basic treatment for patients with a lack or absence of lactose is an elimination diet therapy (elimination of sources of lactose from the diet or their restriction). Pharmaceutical drugs are of secondary importance.

When alactasia is confirmed the only treatment is a complete and lifelong rejection of milk in any form and dairy products. Infants are transferred to artificial feeding special mixtures. Such lactose-free options can be found among mixtures Nan, "Grandma's basket", "Nutrilon", etc. Usually on their packaging you can see the abbreviations "BL" or "FL". With hypolactasia, low-lactose mixtures are prescribed.

Subsequently, such patients should beware of sources of latent lactose (they may contain whole, powdered or condensed milk). They may be:

margarine;
powdered mashed potatoes;
confectionery;
bakery products;
omelets;
cream soups;
canned soups;
semi-finished products;
white sauces;
iris;
lollipops;
mixtures for making biscuits, muffins, pancakes;
ready seasonings.

People with severe lactase deficiency need to carefully analyze the composition of foods and even drugs (for example, lactose is included in some probiotics) before taking them.

In addition, due to the exclusion or significant restriction of milk, such patients are at increased risk of calcium deficiency, and hence the occurrence of osteoporosis, bone thinning and pathological fractures. To prevent this, patients need to regularly eat food with high content calcium and / or vitamin D, which promotes the absorption of calcium:

leafy greens (lettuce, spinach, etc.);
broccoli;
soy products;
turnip;
white cabbage;
canned fish with soft bones(salmon, etc.);
eggs;
rice milk;
liver.

In addition, on the shelves of supermarkets today you can find special lactose-free milk, it was created specifically for such patients.

In the case of hypolactasia, patients are advised to determine their individual dose of milk. Some patients can drink 200 ml (not on an empty stomach, in several doses, slowly, 1-2 times a week). At the same time, it was observed that as gradual increase the amount of drinking whole milk improves and its tolerability. If the tolerance to milk is low, but the use of fermented milk products is possible, then cheeses (especially feta cheese) and yogurts should be included in the diet. They are low in lactose and high in nutritional value.

Some patients prefer not to limit themselves, but to use the achievements of the modern pharmacological industry. There are 2 types of drugs:

drugs with lactase, which should be taken simultaneously with milk or dairy products (Lactraz, etc.);
drugs with lactase that are added to milk before drinking it (Lactade and others).

The prognosis of the disease (with timely diagnosis and diet therapy) favorable.

In case of milk intolerance in children, it is necessary to contact a pediatrician, in adults - to a gastroenterologist. The main role in the treatment is played by a nutritionist, since it is very important to choose the right nutrition. To exclude other causes of the disease, it is necessary to consult an infectious disease specialist and an allergist.

Good day, dear readers. In this article, we will talk about the causes and characteristic symptoms allergic reaction to consumed milk. After reading the material, you will find out how the disease is diagnosed, what needs to be done to help the baby recover, and what diet should be followed.

According to statistics, approximately 10% of babies who have not reached one year old, is allergic to milk.

As you know, an allergic reaction occurs due to the penetration of a foreign agent into the body, in this case we are talking about a protein antigen. For example, in cow's milk they contain about 25 species. Serum albumin, casein, beta-lactoglobulin and alpha-lactoglobulin have the most acute reaction when entering the body.

Normally, the protein, entering the body, breaks down into individual amino acids, which are easily absorbed by the body. However, in children, the enzymatic system is still not perfect enough and therefore there are cases when the protein is not able to completely break down and some amino acid units remain grouped. It is in such cases that the process of absorption is biologically difficult. active substances intestines, which leads to the body's response in the form of an allergic reaction.

It is also necessary to distinguish between the presence of pseudo- and true allergies to milk product:

With the true type, an allergy to goat's milk in a child, as well as to cow's, develops due to insufficient work of the enzymatic system. The body cannot cope with the breakdown of proteins. When taking a dairy product, even in a small amount an allergic reaction occurs.
Pseudo-allergy appears due to excessive consumption of milk. The enzymatic system functions normally, but is not able to break down a large number of proteins at once, which leads to the onset of symptoms typical of allergies.

Parents should be aware that prolonged allergies that are not treated can cause the development of a secondary deficiency of the enzymatic system. Thus, intestinal absorption of gluten and lactose will decrease, and the amount of enzymes produced by the pancreas will significantly decrease. This will reduce the amount of beneficial microorganisms and increase pathogenic flora in the intestines of the child. And this will lead to bad consequences, including a deterioration in the general well-being of the baby.

protein;
sun;
cats;
dogs;
red;
ambrosia.

Basically, an allergic reaction occurs in two cases:

Lactase deficiency (complete or relative). This is observed if the child's body is absent or present, but in insufficient quantities, the lactase enzyme. It is responsible for the breakdown of lactose. With its shortage, the splitting process does not go to the end, substances that are negatively perceived by it enter the body.
Allergy to milk protein in children associated with its intolerance.

What factors influence the development of allergies:

hereditary predisposition;
poor environmental ecology during the period of bearing a child;
pathology during fetal development;
mother's poor diet.

It is important to understand that digestive system a small baby reacts very sharply to a change in breast milk. In infants, the intestines are still immature, loose, the microflora is present, but in insufficient volume. More or less the situation is normalized at the age of two years.

Let's look at how an allergy to milk in a child manifests itself, the symptoms of this disease. Parents should know that the response of the body can be detected from the respiratory organs, intestinal function and the appearance of characteristic signs on the baby's skin. This is due to the fact that the allergen enters the bloodstream and spreads throughout the body.

Respiratory symptoms:

allergic rhinitis;
frequent sneezing;
nasal congestion;
cough;
wheezing, wheezing.

It is important to know that with the appearance of a barking cough, loud wheezing and shortness of breath, it is urgent to call an ambulance. Such symptoms will indicate laryngospasm or the occurrence of pulmonary obstruction. If measures are not taken in time, the baby will begin to suffocate.

Skin symptoms:

milk scab - this phenomenon has the form of a crust, which is located on the head of a peanut, more common in artificial babies;
children's eczema - observed on the cheeks of a child; first, vesicles with serous fluid appear, which subsequently disappear, forming erosion; as they heal, they become covered with crusts and dry scales. This symptom most often observed in children under 6 months of age;
urticaria - characteristic presence small rash, which causes severe itching and constantly itches; while the skin turns red and inflamed;
atopic dermatitis - the appearance of red spots on the body, limbs and face of the child is characteristic, severe itching is caused, due to which the baby intensively combs the places of manifestation of allergies, which can lead to the appearance of a secondary infection (entering pathogenic microorganisms from the child's nails to the combed area);
Quincke's edema is a dangerous diagnosis that can even lead to lethal outcome; characterized by a sharp swelling of the mucosa in the neck and face. During laryngeal edema, asphyxia may begin and anaphylactic shock may develop.

Manifestations from the organs of the gastrointestinal tract:

nausea, bouts of vomiting;
regurgitation in large volume immediately after eating;
intestinal colic, causing severe pain;
diarrhea, there are pieces of undigested food and mucus;
flatulence;
reduction in weight gain.

Parents should be aware that in the presence of bloody streaks in the stool, as well as obvious symptoms dehydration, the little one needs to be urgently taken to the hospital.

An allergy to cow's milk in a child is manifested by restlessness, capriciousness, crying, and abdominal pain. Seizures can be both short-term and permanent. As a rule, pain is observed in the navel.

To visually familiarize yourself with what a milk allergy looks like in a child, a photo of these manifestations:

baby eczema

milk scab

Atopic dermatitis

Diagnostics

First of all, the doctor must find out whether milk really caused the development of allergies.

The doctor looks at the patient, collects an anamnesis.
Feces for dysbacteriosis, capprogram.
General analysis of blood and urine.
Biochemical blood test for immunoglobulins E.
Allergen skin test. The doctor will order a milk tolerance test.
A breath test that detects lactose intolerance.
acidity of the stool.
Biochemical blood test for milk protein intolerance.

And besides, the doctor may suggest going experimental. You need to eliminate all dairy products from your child's diet and see if the reaction changes. If you want to find out the presence of lactase deficiency, then you need to sit on a lactose-free diet and look at the reaction of the body. For this, the artificial baby is transferred to a lactose-free mixture, the mother of the baby does not consume dairy products while breastfeeding, and the intake of milk and products from it is limited to an adult child.

A year ago, my son was diagnosed with relative lactase deficiency. I did not notice problems from the organs of the gastrointestinal tract after taking milk or some allergic rashes. It’s just that the pediatrician drew attention to the fact that my son was rather thin and suggested that he be tested for lactose intolerance and celiac disease. Gluten intolerance was not confirmed, but with lactose the situation was different. The doctor explained that perhaps this was what served as a poor weight gain. According to the recommendations of experts, it was necessary to exclude all dairy products during the period of illness and severe stress, the rest of the time the use of milk in small volumes remained acceptable.

You also need to consider that you need to carry out general treatment aimed at relieving symptoms. What it will be depends on which systems the child manifests the disease from.

In case of violations from the side of the digestive tract, the child may be prescribed the intake of probiotics, pancreatic enzymes, or simply drugs that improve the digestive process.
For problems with the respiratory system, the baby can be prescribed drops for a runny nose or antitussive tablets, drugs to relieve spasms.
If there are skin manifestations, then:

the milk scab is removed by lubricating the child's head with vaseline or vegetable oil; after carrying out these actions, it is necessary to comb the crusts from the child’s head;
urticaria is treated exclusively by taking antihistamines;
with atopic dermatitis, special moisturizing ointments are used, as well as creams with zinc; in case of exacerbation, specific enzymes and antihistamines can be prescribed;
in the case when the baby is diagnosed with Quincke's edema, will help Ambulance and the use of hormonal drugs.

As you might have guessed, with any problems in the body, a specific diet is recommended. If we consider the nutrition of a child with an allergy to milk, then it should be borne in mind that it will differ in infants and older babies, as well as in those toddlers who are breastfed and those who are artificial.

If we consider children older than a year old, then for them they can replace cow's milk with vegetable:

Oatmeal. The composition includes a large number of vitamins and minerals. To prepare it, you will need to purchase oats in the husk, still unpeeled. Boil it, rub it well. Thus, you will get oat milk.
Soy milk is also rich in vitamins and minerals. It is made from soybeans. To do this, you need to soak them for three hours. After that, boil, grind and can be consumed.
Rice milk. It is necessary to thoroughly rinse the cereal, boil until fully cooked, then grind in a blender. The finished product is filtered and consumed.

In the case of long-term intolerance to dairy products, parents will be forced to exclude from the child's diet:

Confectionery and bakery products;
Ice cream;
dairy products;
butter, hard cheese;
milkshakes, chocolate;
condensed milk.

It is important to understand that when total absence dairy products in the baby's diet, a severe lack of calcium in the body will begin, as well as essential amino acids and some vitamins. Therefore, it is very important that parents daily give the peanut products that have in their composition what is contained in milk. In fact, there is enough calcium in:

poppy seeds, sesame, greens, in particular dill and parsley, soy, various nuts and other products, but in smaller quantities.

The following medications are typical:

Suprastin. Reception is allowed in children, starting from the first month of life.
Fenistil, drops. Assigned to infants no more than 30 drops per day.
Peritol, syrup. This drug is recommended for children older than six months.
Drops Zyrtec. Reception is allowed from the age of six months. Assign five drops per day.
Enterosgel is recommended up to six times a day, before each feeding. Before use, it must be diluted in a mixture or in breast milk.
Smekta. Assign one sachet per day.
Polysorb. The dosage is calculated taking into account the body weight of the child.

The last three drugs are enterosorbents. Their intake is important for removing products that cause allergies from the baby's body as soon as possible.

Let's look at the nutritional features of infants:

Artificial babies can initially switch to mixtures made on the basis of goat's milk. There is a possibility that this product will not cause an allergic reaction. There is another option, you can transfer the child to the hydrolyzate mixture. The composition of such a product does not include lactose, which allows it to be easily digestible. If a peanut has a serious allergy to a dairy product, then the doctor will prescribe a mixture based on amino acids.
For babies who are breastfed, it is first of all necessary for the mother to go on a dairy-free diet. In the case when the manifestations of allergies in a toddler are not very pronounced, then the mother can replace milk with kefir or another fermented milk product. However, you need to be prepared that the child's condition will begin to improve no earlier than in two weeks. If such a procedure does not help, then there is nothing left but how to transfer the child to a formula that has undergone a deep protein hydrolyzate. It is possible that the allergy is no longer caused by the milk itself, but by the use of eggs, nuts, or fish by the mother.

During the period when it appears allergic rash on the body of a toddler, many parents consider it unacceptable to take water procedures. However, this opinion is erroneous. It should be borne in mind that the child's skin loses moisture, becomes drier, and cracks may occur. In addition, the baby constantly experiences severe itching. Therefore, bathing is so important, but some rules must be observed:

Reception of water procedures should last no less than 20 minutes. That is how long it takes to sufficiently nourish the surface of the skin with water.
It is very important that the water optimal temperature, about 35 degrees.
Do not use a washcloth, as you can comb the rash on the child's body.
For the same reason, you should not rub your baby with a towel after bathing. You just need to blot it, getting rid of excess water.

Quite often, an allergic reaction to dairy products goes away, the child outgrows it. As a rule, this happens by the age of three. The normalization of the condition is associated with the improvement of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, the full performance of the enzyme system and the strengthening of the immune system.

If a baby is diagnosed with lactase deficiency, a relative form, then it is likely that as it grows older, it will pass. In the case of complete intolerance, the baby will not be able to consume dairy products all his life. And, therefore, there will be a problem with a lack of calcium in the body, so it is important for parents to think in advance which products can replace milk in the diet of a toddler.

Now you know why a baby's body can react negatively to dairy products and what to do about it. Remember, an allergy to milk is not a sentence yet. Children can outgrow this disease, or they can adapt to live without the use of dairy products, replacing them with others.