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Allergies and intolerances

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Original poster

? contact allergy to dairy - is it possible?

15 replies

vnmum · 05/06/2006 20:51

my ds is 6 months old and has recently started on solids. i gave him a breakfast cereal which was for 4m and over and everywhere where it touched his skin he came up like nettle rash, which subsided after about half an hour, by which time he'd thrown up like a scene from the exorcist. i looked at ingredients and the only thing i think it could be is milk.

Anyway spoke to HV about it as i was going to introduce yoghurts etc and she said to just try them. first time he had a fromage frais the same thing happened.

Also he seems to throw up like the exorcist when ive eaten alot of cheese or yoghurt. (I BF) HV says it cant be a dairy allergy as he can tolerate when i have milk but i only have milk in tea and a little on cereal which i leave in bowl as i dont really like milk.

could this be a dairy allergy and has anyone heard of a contact allergy to dairy like this?

OP posts:
CarolinaMoose · 05/06/2006 21:03

ds has this.

I don't actually know if it's an allergy, but am going to find out later this month as we've got a referral to the local hospital paed allergy clinic.

I would see your GP and ask for a referral - mine did it without batting an eyelid.

donnacb · 05/06/2006 21:06

most def sounds like milk allergy. im dairy free for my ds for his allergy. even butter in food sets him off. Ask to see a consultant or paeds dietician for advice. otherwise it may just get worse. sore bottoms and constipation can be another sign.

good luck

donnacb · 05/06/2006 21:06

most def sounds like milk allergy. im dairy free for my ds for his allergy. even butter in food sets him off. Ask to see a consultant or paeds dietician for advice. otherwise it may just get worse. sore bottoms and constipation can be another sign.

good luck

mymama · 06/06/2006 07:28

Sounds very much like he is allergic to dairy. My son was mildly allergic and would come up with the rash but no vomiting. I would be very wary of giving him any milk at all and would cut back yourself if bf.

christie1 · 07/06/2006 01:48

My dd had the same type of reactions to the touch of dairy on her skin and was tested and is allergic to cows milk/dairy. You should avoid dairy until he is tested.

Original poster
vnmum · 07/06/2006 21:40

thanks everyone, i actually have a paed appt in few weeks as a follow up for his reflux so i will mention it then, although when i first went to paed about reflux and mentioned the possibility of dairy allergy, he said it was very unlikely. i spoke to GP about it and he said it couldnt be a dairy allergy as ds tolerates me having a small amount of dairy and it was more likely to be the fats he was allergic to and to give low fat dairy! i didnt believe this advise so ignored it.

i was unsure if dairy caused a contact allergy but now i know other people have same probs i can go to paed with more confidence.

Ds does seem to strain alot for poos now and only goes every other day or so and they are quite sticky, not solid yet as hes mostly BF, and he also seems to get a rash around bottom too.

is it possible that he only reacts to me eating fairly large amounts as sometimes i can have pizza and he doesnt react and other times he will, also the time between me eating dairy and his reaction(vomiting) is different, can this also happen?

OP posts:
manitz · 07/06/2006 22:23

er i dont know what advice you are getting from your doctor but this sounds like a classic dairy allergy. I breast fed for a bit and dairy doesn't always pass through bmilk - although I had tons and attribute it to why dd was v sicky and didn't gain weight.

When she didn't gain we gave her formula and as soon as it touched her skin she got nettle rash. the odd time we got some down her she vomited (as you described) and where the vomit touched her she got nettle rash. she's now three and I've been seeing dieticians/paeds etc now since she was 4months. Noone has ever doubted that this is an allergy although some of the tests don't show much, you can see it with your eyes. I'm really surprised at what you've been told.

Original poster
vnmum · 08/06/2006 11:46

thanks for that comment manitz, i was wondering why he reacted sometimes but not always. when he vomits because of iy he too comes up in nettle rash where the vomit touches his skin. i am now going to persevere with this with the paed and if hes not willing to listen i'll ask for a second opinion. in the meantime, looks like its no more cheese on toast or pizza for me!

OP posts:
manitz · 08/06/2006 20:21

no worries, obviously im not a doctor and it was a while ago and a lot was going on but we also thought dd2 was allergic and i had varying advice on whether or not to give up dairy while I was breast feeding her. I must admit i did and had lots of green veg and sardines witht he bones in to get calcium. with dd1 it was all too late. turned out dd2 wasn't allergic and dd1's allergy is now becoming less severe in that the reaction is far reduced and delayed.

Your ds sounds exactly the same as dd. she was formula fed from 4m (with some breast milk) on nutramigen. I'm very surprised you are being questioned by your paed, it's irrelevent whether there is a technical definition of an allergy but if a child vomits when it eats a food or comes up in hives then it's impossible for that child to eat that food. It's far more conclusive than any test.

manitz · 08/06/2006 20:21

no worries, obviously im not a doctor and it was a while ago and a lot was going on but we also thought dd2 was allergic and i had varying advice on whether or not to give up dairy while I was breast feeding her. I must admit i did and had lots of green veg and sardines witht he bones in to get calcium. with dd1 it was all too late. turned out dd2 wasn't allergic and dd1's allergy is now becoming less severe in that the reaction is far reduced and delayed.

Your ds sounds exactly the same as dd. she was formula fed from 4m (with some breast milk) on nutramigen. I'm very surprised you are being questioned by your paed, it's irrelevent whether there is a technical definition of an allergy but if a child vomits when it eats a food or comes up in hives then it's impossible for that child to eat that food. It's far more conclusive than any test.

manitz · 08/06/2006 20:21

no worries, obviously im not a doctor and it was a while ago and a lot was going on but we also thought dd2 was allergic and i had varying advice on whether or not to give up dairy while I was breast feeding her. I must admit i did and had lots of green veg and sardines witht he bones in to get calcium. with dd1 it was all too late. turned out dd2 wasn't allergic and dd1's allergy is now becoming less severe in that the reaction is far reduced and delayed.

Your ds sounds exactly the same as dd. she was formula fed from 4m (with some breast milk) on nutramigen. I'm very surprised you are being questioned by your paed, it's irrelevent whether there is a technical definition of an allergy but if a child vomits when it eats a food or comes up in hives then it's impossible for that child to eat that food. It's far more conclusive than any test.

manitz · 08/06/2006 20:43

oops sorry for repetition and shoudl ahve said in my opinion...

mrsnoah · 08/06/2006 21:37

hi vnmum; sounds like classic dairy allergy to me. My dd has had it from birth and i find that it very much depends on how much dairy is in her system already as to how much she reacts to consuming it. Thats why sometimes they seem to react when at other times they dont. GPs are very ignorant on this subject. She also had severe reflux and the two do seem to go hand in hand. The poos are sticky and oily due to no being absorbed properly and they often have very sore bums and around the mouth where the milk goes in and comes out and touches the skin. My dd looked like she had the German measles most of the time ! If you want to try alternatives for you while feeding Rice Dream is v. nice. I found the Medics useless and got most my info off the Net ! She is now 7 and doing fine ! Good luck!

tatt · 09/06/2006 20:57

does sound like dairy allergy. You could try just having hard cheese and live yoghurt - they are less allergenic as the proteins are slightly different. You'd still be getting plenty of calcium. Or you could try goats/ sheeps milk. Mostly dairy allergic children have problems with the lot but there are some who are Ok with goats/ sheep milk. Most children grow out of milk allergy by age 3.

Original poster
vnmum · 15/06/2006 17:11

ds seems to react more if i have hard cheese but doesnt seem to react if i have philadelphia or milk. he also reacts if i eat alot of yoghurt. my pead appt is on tuesday so i will see how we go there, and i might have to do trial and error as to what i can and cant consume so i get calcium and he doesnt react

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