Milk protein allergy-risk of anaphylaxis

[calina]

My child had a very severe reaction(anaphylaxis) to cow's milk protein at 6 months when we started weaning her. She has been breastfed up to 14 months. She is on soya diet from 8 months. She had a milk challenge at the hospital at 18 months but she could only tolerate 1ml of milk. At nearly 3 years old she had some muffins that contained approximate 20ml of milk with no allergic reaction. We have stopped giving her more as I was scared of a bad allergic reaction.
I have ask her pediatrician and he said we can continue to gradually increase her exposure to milk using "a Milk Ladder". The milk ladder starts with foods containing well cooked milk and builds up slowly to those containing unprocessed milk.

Did anybody have a similar experience? I am a little bit worried about starting this milk ladder at home.
Could any body tell me if she tolerated nearly 20 ml of baked/boiled milk it means she pasted the milk challenge and she is not at risk of a revere reaction any more?
Thanks.

Being able to tolerate baked milk is very different from being able to tolerate 'raw' milk. When baked at a high temperature for a certain length of time the protein in milk is changed significantly so that it sometimes 'tricks' the immune system into not recognising it as the allergen. It is possible to build up to uncooked milk but it should be done very slowly and carefully. Stick to biscuits and cake for at least a few weeks if not longer before trying anything on the next rung of the 'ladder'. Keep a food diary to note any possible reactions such as eczema or upset tummy and stop if you think she's showing signs of reacting. Before you try to introduce anything like yoghurt, cheese or milk I would do what they do in hospital ie start by simply rubbing a little on her face and waiting to see if her skin reacts. If there's no reaction, then try dabbing it on her lip and waiting again then try a little bit on her tongue etc. Good luck!

Thank you very much.

Any similar experience to share yet?
I would like to know some other parent's experience in this matter.

I don't have direct experience of this - I'm a nut allergic person myself - but do you hold epi pens at home for her? Just wasn't to make sure doctors aren't advising you to out her at too much risk.

No, we do not have an epi pen just antihistamine medication. We have to follow these instructions:
www.ruh.nhs.uk/patients/patients_leaflets/paediatrics/PAE028_Milk_reintroduction.pdf
but I am a little bit worried to start it...

If she's had an anaphylactic shock reaction in the past I'd be very nervous of managing this myself at home, without adrenaline.

Perhaps you could call the Anaphylaxis campaign helpline for advice?

www.anaphylaxis.org.uk

Our Dr says malted milk biscuits are good one to test with.
But we never got that far and no more trials for us for a while...

thanks, I will try to contact them.

I have contacted the Anaphylaxis campaign helpline for advice.They suggested to be guided by my daughters allergy consultant as they have tested and assessed her. Also they hope that our DD's consultant would not ask me to start reintroducing milk into my daughters diet unless he/she was confident that my daughter was starting to out grow her allergy. I hope this too.
But...as Lorelei353 said... DD's had an anaphylactic shock reaction in the past and I am very nervous of managing this myself at home, without adrenaline.
It would help me a lot to know how it worked for others. Thanks.

I don't blame you for being nervous. Any chance your specialist could prescribe epi pens for you? To be honest I'm surprised they haven't done that already.

Well, sorry I can't help you with direct experience but best of luck with it and hopefully someone else will be along soon.

Thanks. I will go back to the consultant soon(he is away for 2 weeks) and hope to get this sorted.