Any Cows Milk Allergy Experts Out There?

[Jennlx]

My DS was disgnosed with a cows milk allergy when he was 6 months old after getting rash immediately while feeding. We were referred to the hospital where diagnosis confirmed but dr didn't perform allergy prick test as told us it provided inaccurate results in babies. DS put on nutramigen (Nutramigen 1 first, but still allergy so then nutramigen AA). We were told to stop all dairy until 1 year old, whereupon with the help of the hospital we successfully weaned him onto dairy and haven't looked back.

Now, 8 month old DD has same rash and again referral, to different hospital as have moved. Here, the doctor performed prick test (putting fresh milk on her and scratching arm) and said she had no reaction. He told us NOT to avoid dairy as this could cause even worse allergic reaction later and to start giving her small amounts. On the way back to the car, she got her 'milk rash' over her eyebrows and torso.

Our GPs really couldn't care less (took them 6 months to refer her in the first place). What would you do?

I would avoid cow's milk (and cow's milk products, things with whey powder in, etc) until a year old and see if anything else triggers rash. I'm intolerant to cow's milk protein (different to being lactose intolerant) but canhave goat's milk. I can tolerate the odd bit of cow's milk now and then but if I overdo it I then become hypersensitive to even the tiniest bit and have to cut it right out again.

So, I'd recommend you give (full fat) goat's milk and yoghurt a go.

who was this doctor in the hosptial? was it a pead immunologist? or just a normal pead carrying out tests?

have you rulled out any other allergies? what foods have you introduced?

sometimes you inherit the ability to be allergic , but not always the same foods.

what other health problems linked to allergies does this baby have?

i would avoid milk, I would ring up the doc explain the rash in the car later on, and any other symptoms you have observed.

I would also, make sure you are seeing the best people you can in your area, or if you can be refferred to another doc/allergy clinic. (the anaphylaxis campaign may help with names for this, ring helpline)

i wouldnt give your child any milk from any other animal, yet. until you are sure this is ige allergy to milk.

If its ige, anything from a udder will cause a problem.

and for some people with milk intolerences the same advice is given. goats milk only suitable for those with very mild intolerences.

That's good advice. I suspect my own intolerance to cow's milk is mild - it was misdiagnosed as IBS as a little girl - and it was only after going down the complementary medicine route that the cow's milk link was picked up. Do you have baby health clinics in your area? (just trying to think of another source of medical advice given your GPs are so unhelpful).

Thanks for your responses. I'm just quite bemused (annoyed) at getting contradictory instructions from different doctors when the matter is almost identical. It was just a general paed at the hospital. So annoying - poor thing has been so sickly and the GPs didn't care as she was gaining weight ("..allergies only really a concern when there's the threat of failing to thrive..."). As a newborn, she screamed during bottles, was bloated like you wouldn't believe, wheezing, extremely windy, bowel movements all over the place and then the rash. The GPs/HVs simply were unhelpful and I had to march into the surgery with photos and DH and demand a prescription for Nutramigen and referral. Since the Nutramigen, she is a completely different baby and all the above disappeared (so other illnesses or anything).

And at the appointment, to listen to all this, then tell me to try milk another bash and see what happens...well, seems downright cruel to the poor child! When the paed writes to me, I'm going to write back and tell him what happened after we left his room in respect of the rash. Then, no dairy until 1 year - hopefully I will have moved house/Drs by then and I might be able to get some proper help. Thanks for your responses - nice to know I'm not going mad!! :)

"no other illnesses"....