Cows milk allergy / rice allergy - any experience?

[hass90]

Hi all - apologies in advance for the really long post I’m just looking for some help / advice / experience if possible!

My daughter is 6.5 months old. She’s always been combination fed and from about 4.5 months she went from just one bottle of formula a day to 50% formula, 50% my milk. This also coincided with the beginning of weaning - with some baby rice and baby porridge.

She developed a rash on her face and started being more sick than usual. After a few trips to the doctors and health visitors they said they suspected a non IgE cows milk protein allergy and she is now on soya formula with no dairy in her diet at all. I stopped the baby porridge as a result (as it contained milk). I also stopped the baby rice - but because it was really bland and she preferred fruit and veg.

Her skin cleared up really well and was looking the best it’s ever looked. (She’s always suffered from cradle cap and dry skin on her forehead). She’d also been itching loads and that has really reduced too - she now only tends to scratch a bit if she’s tired or unhappy (so I presume it’s more for comfort?).

So all was going well. However over the weekend I tried her on a baby porridge which was dairy free. Shortly after having it, she came out in a rash on her face and a few hours later was sick a few times. The ingredients are: rice flour, maize flour, banana powder and strawberry powder.

I’ve spoken to the health visitor about it today. She said rice is hypoallergenic so a reaction to that is highly unlikely. She’s suggested it would be the strawberries.

It has made me think, though, that the initial reaction (which we presumed was because of an increase in formula and therefore cows milk) started at the same time as introducing baby rice.

Does anyone have any advice or has had a similar experience? I’m really struggling to get much support from the doctors and health visitors and have no experience with allergies myself. I just want to know what it is so I can help her.

Thank you in advance x

My daughter has multiple allergies some of which she is slowly outgrowing now at nearly 7. She has had previously anaphylaxis to rice and is only now slowly having baked milk introduced.

So yes it is possible as there are proteins in every type of food. Milk allergy is really common and very associated with bad eczema. My daughter had really awful eczema as a baby especially. Rice allergy is uncommon.

If there are any additional allergies to milk it would more likely be oats or the fruit x

Ps sorry if I have missed anything. I only skim read and after years of dealing with allergies it isn't my fav subject.

On repeatedly to the doctors the minute there is any swelling what so ever and make sure you get referred to a consultant and dietian. Don't believe everything the health visitor days. The walk in centre gave my daughter advice that could have been fatal x

Thank you for your reply! I’m sorry to hear your daughter has multiple allergies - an anaphylactic reaction must have been so scary!

My HV made out it’s almost impossible to be allergic to rice. But I have read online that it’s possible - although uncommon - for babies to react to it.

My daughter has had oats over the weekend too so it could be that. Although the reaction started after the rice and strawberries (and she’s had no oats by that point at all) and she uses Aveeno cream and has never reacted to that. (Although is that the same? I really don’t know?)

I’m still waiting to be referred. I asked about the referral again today and the HV said she wants to do a challenge with the cows milk first. She wants me to give her a yogurt in two weeks time and see how she reacts. She said she’ll refer me after that. It’s such a long process! All I want are answers and some support. X

Rice is an extremely rare allergy - but strawberry is very common. Much more likely to be that.

Can you try her on just some steamed veg sticks (for finger food) or pureed veg (if you're keen on purees)? Sweet potato and other root vegetables, apple, pear - all easy to do and low allergen.

Well it is you choice to do the challenge at home. If you do make sure you only dab a tiny bit on her lip, wait 20 mins then the smallest dot of yogurt, then wait another 20 mins ECT.

My daughter has to try all new foods in hospital. Actually if a child has already had a reaction to a food their body already recognises that food as danger and is capable of producing a stronger response. So just keep trying to give the food again can be very dangerous. Especially in larger quantities.

Allergies to soya too also very common. My daughter was allergic to this until recently.

This is were you need more specialised advise. I don't know where you are located but the consultant Dr Eleanor Minshall is amazing.

Don't be scared off by our experience, my daughter is very sensitive and even reacted to breastfeeding let alone weaning. However, do be cautious and bypass your health visitor if poss. Ask you doctor again to be referred.

Thanks for your message Stuckforthefourthtime! Yes - you’re probably right with the strawberries. I’ll avoid both for now I think.

Yes she loves fruit and veg purées. So I’ll keep her on those for now (minus the strawberries!). I just want to know what she’s allergic to so moving forwards I’m giving her the right stuff.

Thank you so much for your help Allthecolours! It sounds like you’ve had a tough time with allergies. Hope it’s getting better for your daughter now.

I definitely need some specialist help. I just can’t seem to get anywhere with getting it! Last time I went to the doctor she said it has to go through the HV - which is why I’ve been speaking to her instead. I might go back and ask again though. It’s taken me a week to just have a phone call with the HV and the only real outcome of our conversation today was she’d phone me back in a week!

Yes, it has been really full on but I have never really known any different with her. A couple of her allergies have now gone. We are in the process of introducing baked milk and wheat after successful hospital challenges. But she still has some allergies and has failed food challenges at the hospital too. It almost feels weird giving her some food now that she has never been allowed.

I had to have a good few appointments before I finally got referred and it's a good job I did get referred and had the epipens when I needed them.

Once I was referred though my daughter was offered so much support so hopefully this will be the same for you.

She could just have one small non ige allergy or she could end have having multiple allergies that are more servere. The point is you know she is sensitive and so it is best to have allergy tests and support than risk it for no reason.

Try a different doctor. And remember your daughter doesn't have a voice of her own yet so if you don't fight for her no one will. Don't be scared to make a fuss. I am quite an introverted person but I am so glad I didn't hold back on this.

You're welcome x

Your last paragraph made me feel a bit teary Allthecolours! You’re so right though. I hate complaining and making a fuss but they are being a bit useless - so I think I’m going to have to!

Wishing you all the best with your daughter. It sounds like you’re doing an amazing job. It must be so scary to have a child with more severe allergies!

Thanks again for your help! X

Thanks, and good luck to you x

Could be multiple allergies.
My son also has had ana reaction to eggs..
He has a cmpa, soya , gluten, eggs, almond, rice (ish) and birch pollen so can react to tree fruits
I had to fight tooth and nail before they would test him and admit it. Hes on neocate til hes 5 unchallenged.
He also carries an epipen

It’s crazy isn’t it how we have to fight so hard just to have support for our little ones! I know the NHS is stretched (and I absolutely hate moaning about it or anyone who works within it) but it doesn’t make any sense to me at all.

Sounds like you’ve had a tough time with allergies too Imacliche. Hope your little boy is doing ok!

hass90 thanks for that. Everything with him is a fight. Dont even get me started on getting him help for his brittle asthma, and autism on top of other health issues. All i do is seem to argue with consultants, hcp and fill in bloody forms.
Keep on at drs about allergies hopefully they will test. Just be wary cows milk protein allergy if it is that comes hand in hand with soya allergy too.
Also, allergens can build up in the system slowly aswel as having an instant reaction. My daughter was on cows milk from 11 months old. When she turned 14 months old ended up rushed into hosptial very poorly. Unbeknown to me she had a long term reaction and ended up very poorly indeed shes luckily almost grown out of it. But my youngest has them that severe its probably a lifelong thing

Oh god - I do feel for you. Sounds like you’re doing a great job fighting for him though!

Yea I had read that children with cows milk allergies are also often allergic to soya too. Her skin did clear straight up when we moved her on to soya formula though and she’s been on it for 6 weeks now with no problems - until this weekend.

The itching has come back today too - which I guess could be a delayed reaction to the strawberries? Urgh I just don’t know! I just feel so sorry for her and want to make it better

Try keeping a food diary and only introduce 1 new food per week so you can narrow down what is causing the reaction.
Aveeno cream is good for the hives/itching/ezcema brought on by allergies. Strawberries are more an instant reaction one. Youll usually get localised rash around the mouth that spreads. Ive found dairy/soya/gluten can be slow burning but cause much nastier side effecfs. Its a mine field isnt it. Avoid kiwis too.

Thats a good example of a localised allergic reaction. Spreads very fast starts at the mouth and lips start swelling. That was after an apple believe it or not takes about 2 minutes for it to spread right down his neck, swell his lips and then he starts wheezing. Cmpa gluten and soya are more gastric/skin /immune system symptoms in him .

That was one of the worse ones

Oh bless him! That looks so sore - poor thing. Thank you so much for all your help and advice. It’s really useful! I will definitely start keeping a diary and that’s a good tip to only introduce one new food per week, thank you!

Do you have any idea how long a rash due to something like strawberries would last? Sorry, I have no clue about any of this stuff and Googling only seems to provide various different answers!

Can keep reoccurring for days. I was advised keep dosed up on antihistamines after a reaction for at least 4 days as it can keep cropping back up. Pop me an inbox if theres anything else you need to know or want any allergy friendly ideas for food. Been there done that still doing it now its hard bloody work

Thank you so much Imacliche! I really appreciate it. So helpful to have some advice. I’ve learnt more on here than I have from doctors / HVs haha thanks again! X