¿Qué es la alergia a la proteína de la leche de vaca?

"A alergia a la leche de vaca is where there is an abnormal response by the body's immune system to the proteins found in milk and dairy products containing milk, resulting in allergic symptoms. Symptoms of cow's milk alergia can involve the skin, digestive system, and more rarely the respiratory system," says Emily Else, a paediatric dietitian at City Dietitians.

A cow's milk allergy typically develops when cow's milk is ingested by a baby, either in formula feeding or when a baby starts eating solids. However, it can also affect babies who are exclusively breastfed because the cow's milk can pass from mother to baby through the leche materna. Sin embargo, esto no significa necesariamente que el bebé tenga intolerancia a la lactosa.

Alergia inmediata a la leche de vaca

Hay dos tipos de alergias dependiendo de cómo reacciona el sistema inmunológico. "La reacción mediada por IgE también se conoce como CMA inmediata. Los síntomas pueden ocurrir minutos después de consumir leche de vaca y hasta dos horas después," explica Else.

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The most common symptoms of cow's milk allergy are usually severe and include:

• Erupciones cutáneas.

• Picazón.

• Hives.

• Tingling or itching around the mouth.

It can also cause:

• Swelling to lips, face, or around the eyes.

• Vómitos.

• Diarrea.

• Sibilancias.

In the most severe cases cows milk alergy can cause anafilaxia, a severe and potentially life-threatening reaction to a trigger such as an alergia. Symptoms can include dificultades para respirar, un latido rápido, confusión, colapso y pérdida de conciencia.

Immediate CMA can be diagnosed with a prueba de punción cutánea or a blood test. If this type of allergy is suspected, the child would usually be referred to a paediatrician who would arrange for the test to be performed in hospital.

Alergia retardada a la leche de vaca

Non-IgE mediated reaction is also known as delayed CMA. "Symptoms can happen from two hours after consuming cow's milk and up to 72 hours afterwards. This is the most common type of cow's milk allergy.Yellow box

Symptoms of delayed CMA include:

Diarrea.

Estreñimiento.

Blood or mucus in poos.

Reflux.

Vómitos.

Éczema.

Slowed growth.

La mejor manera de averiguar si su hijo tiene este tipo de alergia es excluir la leche de vaca de su dieta. La leche deberá ser excluida de su dieta durante al menos dos semanas para dar tiempo a que los síntomas se calmen.

Some babies may have a combination of the two types of reacción alérgica, which can cause both types of allergic responses .

"It is estimated that up to 7% of babies under one year of age have a cow's milk allergy," says Else. "Globally, food allergy is on the rise and la leche de vaca is one of the most alergias más comunes in childhood. It is unknown why this is but it is thought to be related to environmental factors and our lifestyle."

Si a su bebé se le diagnostica APLV, un profesional de la salud o un especialista en alergias le ofrecerá asesoramiento médico sobre cómo manejar su alergia. También puede ser derivado a un dietista. El tratamiento implica eliminar toda la leche de vaca de la dieta de su hijo por un período de tiempo.

Your doctor can prescribe specialist infant formula if your baby is formula-fed. If your baby is exclusively alimentado exclusivamente con leche materna, se le aconsejará a la madre evitar todos los productos lácteos de vaca.

Most children with milk allergy will outgrow the problem by the age of five and it is not life threatening. Your child should be assessed every 6 to 12 months to see if they have grown out of their allergy.

Your doctor or dietitian may recommend gradually reintroducing cow's milk products into your baby's diet when they are a year old. This process is often called the 'milk ladder' and involves introducing your baby to specific foods that contain cow's milk. The process can be used in children who have had skin or gastrointestinal problems.

However, it is important not to attempt to reintroduce cow's milk to your baby at home if they have previously suffered from breathing problems or floppiness after consuming lácteos.