If your young child has milk intolerence do they get hives if you give them milk?

[sunnyshine]

this is a new development for us. we think dd has milk intolerence but doctor has said she will grow out of and to give small bits to keep trying. anyhow, had cheese yesterday and noticed almost a nettle rash on legs mainly. she had one huge one and about 20 smaller ones. gave piriton and gradually went away. is this linked and why not had before?

Lactose intolerance and milk allergy are different things. Lactose intolerance is caused by not having lactase (digestive enzymes), so you can't digest the lactose (sugars, basically) in the milk. But allergy is about the proteins, and your body's immune system setting out to fight them. Everything you've mentioned points to allergy.

A lot of doctors think if they took allergies seriously it would be akin to using leeches. Some are very badly informed. You often have to go it alone, keep full records of foods and reactions, and read up plenty about the subject yourself.

so saw consultant today and had rast test for milk allergy. have to go back in 3 months for result of rast test and further discussions. need to go dairy free on our own. Any thoughts on where to start!

Hello, ds1 was diagnosed with a milk allergy at 10mo with symptoms v. similar to your daughter's so I know how you feel. As to where to start with dairy free then:
-How old is your dd? If she is under 1 and you are not still breast-feeding then you will need a prescription for a dairy-free formula such as neonate or pepti. If she is older (but not under-weight) then you can buy Oat, Rice or Soya milks to use in cooking/in cereal etc. These have very low calories though so can't be a main food in the same way cows milk can. We were also advised by a dietitian to add vitamin d drops as vitamin d levels can apparently be a problem for children on a milk free diet.

-There are a few dairy-free margarines around, we used Pure sunflower spread.

-We also used Alpro soya yogurts. Many people will advise you to avoid soya milk/yogurt etc with an allergic child because it is another of the big potential allergens but I didn't know that then and ds1 was always fine with it.

-Bird's custard powder is milk-free and can be made up with oat milk etc

-Kinnerton make a dairy-free dark chocolate that is quite sweet and was always popular here. Also chocolate easter eggs and lollies. Sainsburys and Waitrose stock them (and others I'm sure but these were the places we had luck with).

-Milk free biscuits are quite rare but some types of ginger snap, arrowroot biscuits and chocolate bourbons are fine.

Incidentally ds1 outgrew his dairy allergy by age 3 and many children do by age 5 so remember this may well be a temporary thing.

hi wb - sorry for hijack but could you tell me which brands of ginger snaps, arrowroot biscuits and chocolate bourbons to look for? so far I have only found Tesco free from shortbread (yuck) and Nairns oatcakes, which come in various sweet varieties as well as savoury. thanks!

Titferat - I think (but do check the packaging as its been a couple of years now):
Crawfords Thin Arrowroot (tellow and red packet)
McVities Gingersnaps
Bourbons - pretty much any brand

...yellow and red, even

..it's gingernuts, not snaps. McVities Gingernuts.

lovely - will definitely get some. Thanks! Wouldn't have occurred to me that the gingernuts and bourbons might be dairy free. DD will be pleased!! never heard of arrowroot biscuits but will look out for those too.

well am back here again! have had resuk=lts from RAST test and is not cows milk allergy. where do we go from here. is definatly something but dont know what. do we go back to doctors and ask for different tests, or keep a food diary. i am so confused now as really thought it was that.

Send an e-mail to ROBERT COHEN he will answer all your questions notmilk.com brilliant site.