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Allergies and intolerances

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Original poster

Constant runny nose - is it dairy?

21 replies

lupinjess · 01/04/2009 09:14

DD2 is 9 months and has had a runny nose for as long as we can remember (think we had one week in January when she was snot free). It doesn't bother her but HV says it may be dairy and suggests cutting out all dairy for a week to see. Not sure how to go about cutting out all dairy for that long when in next breath HV saying to make sure she gets at least a pint of milk/cheese/yoghurt etc everyday.
She gave up breastfeeding totally about a month ago so can't rely on that anymore.
Any ideas?

OP posts:

FiveGoMadInDorset · 01/04/2009 09:15

Soya yogurts, rice milk for cereal, cooking etc.

Original poster

lupinjess · 01/04/2009 09:20

Is it likely to be a true dairy intolerance if this is the only symptom? She's such a happy laid-back little thing that I'm sure she's not in any discomfort and has not rashes, eczema or asthma etc.

OP posts:

FiveGoMadInDorset · 01/04/2009 09:23

DS seems to be CAesin Intolerant so intolerant to the protein found in cows milk, he has soya formula and yoghurts, rice milk and seems to tolerate goats milk. He had a dodgy nappy and mild execma (SP) but the small changes had cleared everything else up. It might be worth trying for a week, if it doesn't help then go to your GP or make an appointment anyway.

RubyrubyrubyRaven · 01/04/2009 09:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

lupinjess · 01/04/2009 09:36

Fivegomad - Can you get the soya yoghurts and formula in supermarkets? Might give that a go and see.

Ruby - no we've never smoked and nobody is ever allowed to smoke in our house. Did wonder whether it could be allergy to our ancient old cat though??

OP posts:

FiveGoMadInDorset · 01/04/2009 10:28

Yes the yogurts are Apro Soy, you can also get a butter substitute. DS is on C&G soy formula but SMA do one as well and Heinz

amidaiwish · 01/04/2009 10:32

dd1 is like this and gets nosebleeds at this time of year too.

i know it's not for everyone but we get great results with a homeopath. the remedy she gives her is silica.

dd is a great dairy lover too. cheese/milk etc. no other symptoms of an intolerance apart from a runny nose, well actually it is more just full of mucus than actually running ifykwim. i have tried reducing her dairy but didn't really notice a difference, i have never cut it out completely though.

Original poster

lupinjess · 01/04/2009 10:56

My gut feeling is that she's better off with a runny nose and getting all the nutrition she needs but part of me wonders whether I should cut dairy out just in case it's causing problems that we haven't noticed yet.

OP posts:

amidaiwish · 01/04/2009 11:01

is she a good eater generally?
you could try cutting it out completely for a week and see how you get on.
if she eats green veg, orange juice, red meat etc she is probably ok without dairy for a week esp if you use the substitutes.

Original poster

lupinjess · 01/04/2009 11:09

Yes, she pretty much eats everything we give her.
Without being too gross - the stuff that comes out of her nose is really thick and really green (almost as if she has a permanent cold but without any other symptoms). Does that sound like it's caused by the dairy to you in your experience?

OP posts:

amidaiwish · 01/04/2009 11:15

that is like DD. really really thick and green - not infected or yellow. she is very good at blowing her nose now which is quite a relief. i know at school the teaching assistant was quite stunned at just how much comes out.

anyway, i just don't know if it is dairy. i suspected it for ages but she isn't a great eater and although i do now limit her milk, cheese etc she still has a couple of portions a day.
she has no tummy upset, excema or asthma. No other obvious allergies. fit and healthy.

we just blow her nose regularly but the nosebleeds are difficult as they disturb her sleep. plus she then tends to be a bit irritable, look pale and under the weather. the homeopathic remedy has been truly amazing so keeping it under control with that.

amidaiwish · 01/04/2009 11:15

she is now 5 btw. but has been like this all her life.

Original poster

lupinjess · 01/04/2009 11:20

Thanks amidaiwish - I have a friend who is really into homeopathy so maybe I'll give her a ring. In the meantime cutting out dairy for a few days seems like the thing to do - might find out that it makes no difference.

OP posts:

williamsmummy · 01/04/2009 17:38

it would be clear fluid if allergy, i think green would show a viral infection.

pre -school children do get around 8 different colds a year.

what about her poos? are they green?

Original poster

lupinjess · 02/04/2009 09:02

Only just got back to computer! No her poos are not green at all - vary depending on what she's eaten. She's had this nose since she was about 8 weeks and she was exclusively breastfed until 24 weeks so if an allergy it must be something in the breast milk too (although I do eat dairy so maybe getting it through me??)

OP posts:

SparkyToo · 11/04/2009 19:25

Was he/she born by c-section? My neices and nephews were and they all had permanently runny noses for the first few years of their lives. I did hear somewhere that the natural birthing process clears all the passageways - don't know if it's true though?

lizziemun · 11/04/2009 19:50

I have to say sounds like me and i have chronic rhinitis. Which means i am allergic to small particals (dust & Pollen and cats).

My mum says i have been like this from day one.

Nighbynight · 11/04/2009 20:19

I had the runny nose, and apparently no lactase. Lactose free milk is OK.

chocolepew · 11/04/2009 20:24

This sounds like my DD, definately try no dairy for a week, you can get loads of substitutes now. Holland and Barrett or any of the big supermarkets.

pointydog · 12/04/2009 19:08

There's no point cutting out something just for a week or do. The recommendation is to cut out a foodstuff for six weeks and then gradually reintroduce it to see if that was indeed the cause.

It was a farily useless comment by your hv if she didn't go on to advise you exactly how to do this.

Nicadooby · 12/04/2009 19:32

My son has had a constant runny nose for months too, but it has nothing to do with the dairy as he has been dairy and soya free for 5 months now. He is 10 months old now.

If you are going to do a dairy free diet then you will need a prescription milk (which all taste fowl) from the doctor, as you can not use rice milk as a substitute until 2 years old and will also have to do it for alot longer than 1 week to see if it is the cause. Babies who are dairy intolerence are also likely to be intolerence to soya and goats milk to.

Does your little one have any other symptoms associated with milk intolerence? ie wind, tummy pain, reflux, loose stools, constipation, general unhappiness, dry ichy skin ect

If a runny nose (altough not very nice) is the only symptom then i'd think it was unlikey to be the dairy

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