Can a child suddenly develop an allergy to milk?

[HairyMaclary5]

Just that really! Is it possible for a child to suddenly develop an allergy or intolerance to milk or are there always symptoms present from birth?

It's possible- I know of people who have developed, eg, a peanut allergy at 8.

Yes it is possible to develop an allergy at any time.

With cow's milk, most of the world's population lose the ability to tolerate lactose as children.

I think it is possible for a child to get a temporary lactose intolerance after a gastro bug.

But I think they either have CMPA (cow's milk protein allergy) or they don't. DS has mild non-Ige CMPA and we didn't realise until he was 9 months old. That was when we started giving him
some formula - before that he was breastfed and slow to take to solids, so he hadn't had enough of the CMP for the reaction to be obvious.

"With cow's milk, most of the world's population lose the ability to tolerate lactose as children."

This doesn't really make sense. There is lactose in all milk, not just cow's milk. The vast majority of children can digest lactose since milk is their only/main source of nutrition in the beginning.

Are you saying they can lose the ability to digest lactose as they grow?

Are you saying they can lose the ability to digest lactose as they grow?

Yes.

Cow's milk has more lactose than eg goat's milk. Our guts produce lactase as babies but for most humans this production stops after about 2 years.

Northern Europeans have evolved to continue production as adults, but even then not everyone does.

It is a genetic mutation 90% of northern europeans have this mutation but in Asia only 10% do.

There are other causes of lactose intolerance in populations that are normally tolerant eg you can develop a temporary intolerance after a bout of gastroenteritis.

Thanks for replies folks!
So in normal circumstances (eg no tummy bug) it might still be possible for a child of say 3 or 4 to suddenly develop a milk intolerance having had no previous symptoms?
Interesting...not something I know anything about!

"most of the world's population lose the ability to tolerate lactose"
This isn't true though.
You said it yourself, most Northern Europeans don't lose it. Asians do.
I don't want to derail with a discussion about the world population though.
I'm going to assume OP is in the UK and therefore that lactose intolerance affects the minority rather than the majority.

Yes the build up can make it flare more obviously later

Thanks, yes we are in the UK. Main symptoms are red dry skin patches around the mouth (not itchy) and hyperactive behaviour. Looking at several things but wondering about milk.

Oh also permanently large tonsils!

A sudden allergy out of the blue is more likely to be a new type of food. Have you or her nursery introduced something new to her diet? The usual suspects for rashes like that in a child previously able to tolerate milk are: eggs, tomatoes, night shades (including potatoes and aubergienes) and shellfish.

Have you actually looked up the symptoms of lactose intolerance and CMPA? It doesn't seem to match based on what I know about them.

Nothing new in her diet that I can think of and the only food of those that she eats is eggs (which I am also suspicious about)

Namechange30 - yes I have and I know there are other symptoms. Just clutching at straws a bit really and milk seems to fit with some of the symptoms we are experiencing, though not all. Uptake of milk has drastically increased lately which seems to coincide with the symptoms.

I don't think you should be trying to self diagnose, there is a difference between intolerance and a true allergy. You need an expert medical opinion. Definitely not some unqualified nutrition person. As far as lactose goes, I have only heard that older people can develop less ability to tolerate. Food exclusions is a bad way to go without proper evidence. A true egg allergy involves anaphylactic shock

Thanks - yes will seek expert advice. Really just wondered if it was possible for symptoms to develop in an older child and was struggling to find the answer online so thought you good people of Mumsnet would have the knowledge!
Allergy testing seems a lot to put a child through if it may not be that (which I suspect it isn't)

"A true egg allergy involves anaphylactic shock"

That's not actually true, some egg allergies are mild and some are severe.

Also if you suspect an allergy, depending on what it is, some can be diagnosed by excluding the food for a set time and then reintroducing it to see if symptoms return.

Have our suspicions only because of huge adenoids and tonsils, permanent runny nose (but no tonsillitis or ear infections), tiredness, behavioural issues and skin problems.
There are so many things that could be causing the above but I think I'll ask advice from a dietician
Thanks for replies everyone

OP

I'm Lactose Intolerant and strangely also have huge tonsils, sorry not helpful but just another derail because I found it interesting.

If it is milk then it's quite easy to remove from the diet.

Good luck with whatever it is.

Sashh - oh that is interesting, thanks. When did you start having symptoms of the intolerance? What other symptoms did you have?

Lactose intolerance in children ime usually shows as vomiting or diarrhea, pretty much constantly.

Some intolerances can be diagnosed with food exclusions done in the right way (depending on what it is - others require you to keep eating the food so tests can be done)

A rash around the mouth would suggest an allergy to me which needs testing.

Either way if you can't work out what it is I would ask GP to refer you to see a specialist.

Don't forget with rashes it could be different washing powders, suncream etc not just food to consider.

Thanks - not using anything new so it's all a bit puzzling. Also little wrinkly lumps under the eyes just come up in last month which I'd read could be symptomatic of an allergy. The rash on the face is more like two red dry patches which aren't itchy but aren't clearing with various creams.
I think a GP appointment is our first step.

Hairy

I don't remember not having symptoms, I thought it was normal to have belly ache all the time.

I know my mother took me to the Dr because I didn't seem to be drinking much milk when I was a couple of months old, but as I was healthy and a good size (10lb at birth) they didn't do anything.

I would be about 7 or 8 when I made the connection that milk = feeling sick.

I'm OK with a bit of milk in mashed potatoes or cheese on toast.

If I have too much milk I'm in the toilet about an hour later with diarrhea and stomach cramps.

I have a few other issues eg psoriasis so thinks might overlap with rashes/red flaky skin.

I don't take milkin drinks, if I want to make pancakes I use goat's milk.

The one thing that does sometimes trip me up is processed food. Pub food I have to be careful with,

Sashh - thanks for reply. Oh that sounds awful and must have been hard for you growing up. I guess you'll be used to it now, but milk is tricky as it's in everything!