What are the common symptoms of dairy allergy/intolerance?

[schneebly]

I was wondering as I think my ds's might have the above.

what symptoms do they have?

Eczema which appears to get worse when they have had a lot of dairy, permanently squidgy nappies and both were very 'sicky' babies with reflux. Just put 2 and 2 together but not sure?

have you tried taking dairy out of their diets and seeing what happens? (sorry if this sounds bleedin obvious ).

I wondered because my ds (18mo) gets a hives-type contact rash and vomits if he eats things with milk in. We're having it investigated atm so I don't actually know the diagnosis yet.

It only just occured to me so I will try for a few days - I hope it is unrelated - they both love dairy!

Hi there. If you think they are allergic to dairy get them tested before taking it out. A RAST test or skin prick test (depending on age) will do this. I had a feeling that my ds was dairy allergic from 4 wks (I was b/feeding) Got rast test at 8 mnths as ds had ezcema head to toe from 6 wks and it confirmed. I had to continue b/feeding whilst cutting out milk and egg (egg is more common than milk and is, to my suprise found in formula (I was mixing feeding) at the time due to study/uni. After bad reaction to a "stolen" piece of peanut butter on toast (he is now 2) was referred to to allergy clinic for skin test and deffo is allergic to dairy (to lesser extent) but massive allergy still to egg and nuts (most of all peanuts). If you are worried (you don't say how old) either sit it out at the doctors until you can get tested (it took me ages) or if you are still feeding yourself you could try cutting all out, but I would advise getting it confirmed first. It is a hard slog, as many docs just don't have the understanding/time etc. but worth it in the end. My ds is now on Goats milk products (and I have finally stoppied b/feeding - yahoooooooo - and he just has mild patches of ezcema!) GOOD LUCK!

Sorry berniebear, I disagree, it can take ages to get a referral ,wheras you will notice a huge difference within a week of stopping dairy, then you can go to docs with your own evidence. A contact rash is one sign, but you need a bit more evidence. The hardest thing is not cutting out the obvious things like milk, cheese and yogurt, but actually checking foods for whey, lactose, milk protein etc. It's well worth doing, because it can have a huge impact on your childrens health, rather than keeping them possibly on something that is making them poorly.

Stop for 2 weeks and you will have to read all the packets of everything (bread, biscuits everything) to see if it has milk, whey, casein, milk powder in it.

People often crave stuff that makes them ill - so the fact that they love dairy could be relevant.

You have to ask yourself though - if they love it that much will you be strong about not giving in.

Ds has largely outgrown his dairy allergy - but he does get a few patches of excema which dissapear if I am strict - but as I am already having to be super strict about the things he is anaphylactic (eggs, peanuts, bananas, avocado latex) to I have decided that low dairy is as far as I am prepared to go. Yes his skin would clear up if he didn't have it - but it doesn't seem to bother him or affect his sleep.

My ds (8 months) has permanent cold like symptoms - runny nose, chesty cough and tonsilitus he's had 3 courses of anti biotics and this week had a searing temp so went to hosp. spoke to an angel of a nurse whesuggested he may be alergic to cowsmilk. So I stocked up on goats milk formula, cheese and yoghurt to see if he improves. - can anyone tell me how long it took for their symptons to go away?
Also anyone gone to an alternative therapist for allergy testing / advice as general opinion on conventional gps is that they're not educated in this area.

DS's symptoms started to fade away within two weeks, however... a great number of children allergic to cows milk can't tolerate goats or sheep milk either (mine is one of them).

DS had severe constipation, a permanent bloated tummy, eczema, and a stuffy nose. He was also very pasive before removing the milk.

Hi schneebly. Dairy allergy is much easier to diagnose than dairy intolerance. Reflux and dairy intolerance/allergy often go hand in hand. My DS1 had reflux and was later diagnosed with dairy intolerance. His skin was fine, but the intolerance showed in other ways - his poos were always really foul smelling and sticky, he was often bloated and very whingy. When he got older he was able to tell us that he often had tummy ache. Often had bouts of diarrhoea.

A friend suggested I cut out dairy. I did. (you have to do it properly. Look on all packets of food. You will be surprised as to how much stuff and milk in it or milk powder etc) It took one week and he changed completely. He was brighter, his poos were better, he was better tempered etc etc. Kept it up for a month and then put him back onto dairy just out of interest and to confirm for me and hey presto, - all his old symptoms returned.

However, when I got him tested for dairy allergy/intolerance it came back as negative! Although the GP agreed with me and very kindly prescribed milk for me. Intolerance is very difficult to diagnose. sorry rambling now!! HTH

Oh btw. He is 9 now and can have dairy no problem - although I cant overload him.

Thanks for all the replies. Am going to cut all dairy and products containing milk, whey, casein and milk powder and see what happens.

good plan :)