Milk intolerance or just a rash?

[purplecroc]

My 6 week old has had this rash for about 2 weeks now. He has also had a blocked nose that I have to unblock twice a day (not constantly running just stuffy) since about a week old. He feeds well majority of the time and is only fussy occasionally, he sleeps well and generally seems pretty content. Is this a good sign?

I've been to the pharmacist who have prescribed cream and bath oil for him but I'm worrying myself that he's milk/lactose intolerant. My GP will not see him as the responsibility falls to the health visitor. I just don't trust the health visitor and she has messed up numerous times and I feel she will go straight to taking him onto different formula without even really looking at it.

Not sure if relevant but he was breastfed for 2 weeks then switched to Apitmel.

Hoping there are others with similar experiences or rashes that just turned out to be eczema!

Hi my daughter has cows milk protein intolerance so I know a bit on the subject. There are a few things that I noticed:

1. a rash like that which has been consistent together with runny nose needs looking into regardless of the outcome - it is nearly always some sort of reaction but may be as simple as washing powder. You’re right to suspect the milk though because it’s the only intake.

2. your GP’s a knob! A health visitor has no jurisdiction over diagnosing an allergy or intolerance and certainly cannot prescribe specialist milk. This is the GP’s job or a paediatricians. I suspect your GP knows little about it and is passing the buck.

3. it goes against NICE guidelines for your GP to refuse consultation on ANY health matter.

4. Eczema in itself is a sign of milk intolerance.

5. milk intolerance becomes more noticeable when switching from BF to FF because the dairy intake is direct (you’re absorbing the proteins from your diet leaving your LO little to react to).

Does your LO have any other symptoms at all, even if they don’t seem relevant? What are the nappies like? Much gas? Any reflux?

X

@Liverpoolmumof1 thank you so much for your reply!

They will not give me an appointment and have instead arranged for the health visitor to come and see us tonight. I just know she will be of no help 

His nose once cleared seems fine it's like 2 big bogeys up there and he's sorted once they're out! I've bought different washing detergent so will try that with the next load.

He's only been sick 4 times since birth and that's usually when he's coughed during a feed. He doesn't even seem to spit up a tiny bit. Nappies are yellow which if I remember is ok? Sometimes runnier than normal but more often than not they seem solid.

He burps relatively easily and when he has trapped wind he lets us know but is settled once out. Would you say his rash looks similar to what you've experienced?

Very very few babies have a problem with milk, since that is their actual only food source. And they'd have much more than a rash if they did. Primary lactose intolerance is a very serious condition that you would soon know about.
This is why people need to stop bandying around rare diagnoses like that on the internet as if they are an everyday thing. Get your child seen by a professional, not randomers on the internet with silly ideas.

@crispsandgin if you read the thread you will see my issues with the professionals. I have seen a pharmacist and will be seeing health visitor tonight.

I researched his symptoms and they are similar to those with intolerances so I simply asked if any randomers could share experiences, to ease my concern.

@crispsandgin Well said! They should probably just shutdown mumsnet and all other online forums as they’re just full of randomers with silly ideas....

You have issues but you haven't even seen a dr. You are playing with your childs health and getting medical advice from the internet. It's idiotic, especially for a newborn baby.

@crispsandgin have you read my post? They will not see him. They put the responsibility with the health visitor. I'm struggling to understand how I'm playing with his health when I've been to a pharmacist and he's being checked tonight? Until that happens I was hoping to hear from others who had been in similar circumstances. Thanks for your super useful input.

of course your gp will see him if you call and make an appt, don't be so silly.

Oh my god! Neither of you have any idea what you are talking about. This new mum had a concern which she has raised.

I am not some ‘randomer on the internet’. I have a baby with cows milk protein allergy which is extremely common and looks exactly like this picture. Lactose intolerance is extremely rare in infants but it’s a different thing all together.

If you had read my post you’d see I advised this lady to see her GP or a paediatrician because nobody other than them can diagnose or prescribe.

Maybe if randomers on the internet stopped slating other mums who are looking for help mumsnet would be a better place!!

Purplecroc you can PM me if you need advice on where to turn to for professional help love. X

@purplecroc it’s difficult to tell if the rash is the same because all skin reactions look similar. Generally milk protein allergy would bring other symptoms like mucous in stool, bloating ang general grumpiness but as I said earlier it’s worth getting all rashes checked out. Definitely see how you go with the new detergent.

Please don’t let nastiness put you off asking for support on here. As new mums, we worry enough as it is without being ridiculed too. I personally have found invaluable support on here from other sympathetic mums and dads. Xx

It's not extremely common at all, you are peddling the exact nonsense I am talking about. And you shouldn't even be attempting to diagnose a newborn on the internet with a serious condition.

I’m sorry you disagree with my paediatrician. You must know better.

You clearly cannot read as I have only advised on additional things to look out for in an attempt to reassure as well as advice on a patients rights to proper attention from a care giver which has so far been denied. If you think it’s “silly” to suggest otherwise - you do not know the NHS well.

Think about what you’ve said “a serious condition”! If this mother’s instincts were right, her GP was all to willing to let it play out. I wholeheartedly support anyone needs help when their instincts as a mother are challenged.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to get proper medical attention with infants and if they’re being denied that, I can offer help in getting it because guess what - it’s my job - my career!

Take your crap elsewhere

patient.info/doctor/cows-milk-protein-allergy-pro

Little bit of background reading.

My daughter has cow's milk protein allergy (which is entirely different to a lactose allergy). I'm sure I read that 1 in 20 babies has cow's milk protein allergy - although obviously some of those would only have a very slight intolerance so doesn't matter as such. My daughter is 20 months and on Neocate still as she has failed step one of the milk ladder many times! She also has really bad silent reflux (often babies with cmpa have silent reflux - it's where the acid comes up but goes down again).

See what the health visitor says (mine was the person who referred us to a dietician) but if you don't feel satisfied they know what they're talking about then insist on seeing the gp. My daughter's main symptom was being so uncomfortable she screamed most of the day and night! She had slight eczema and awful trapped wind and refused to ever be laid flat. But... children react in different ways so that doesn't mean your dc does or doesn't have it. I wish I'd been pushier sooner as it took a long time to get the meds my daughter needed.

CMPA and lactose intolerance are completely different things. CMPA is common, lactose intolerance is extremely rare in babies.

Both of my twins have CMPA although they had varying symptoms. These included:

• Eczema that gradually worsened
• Bleeding nappy rash that looked like acid burns as soon as it touched the skin
• Mucous filled nappies
• General rashes
• Very sensitive skin - if you accidentally touched them with your nail, it would go white and raised with a big red patch round it
• Nasal congestion

It took me until they were almost 10 months old to get to the bottom of it and get hydrolysed formula. When I switched to this (I’d alteady cut dairy out of their diet, as well as soy after a terrifying reaction to soy formula) the symptoms literally disappeared within three days. The one with terrible eczema, it completely went except for one stubborn patch on his ribs, and now flares up only when sick - it was all over his entire body so not a coincidence.

I can’t say whether your baby has CMPA but I doubt the HV can prescribe hydrolysed formula and will probably have to refer on to a dietician or paediatrician. Insist they do something to try and resolve it, or book an appointment with the GP regardless. HVs are not doctors, it’s ridiculous.

I’m sorry you disagree with my paediatrician. You must know better

I am disagreeing with you. You obviously misunderstood the paediatrician. But you aren't one, so stop offering medical advice.

No i didn’t. I’ve posted a link from a paediatrician also. CMPA is the most common allergy in babies! Please read before spouting further

Crisps and gin, you need to back up your statements with statistics as i for one simply do not believe you. You are simply wrong when you say very very few babies have a problem with milk. I know quite a lot of parents who's child has or had cmpa.

The argument of all the incurably ignorant and uneducated! 😂😂😂

Ok, so you can't then. Shame

Another parent of a child with CMPA here. It's certainly not very rare! 3 of his friends in his class have the same.

OP, please register with a different doctor's surgery. Your son needs to be properly checked over. It could be a milk allergy, or it could be something else entirely.

My son's symptoms were eczema, wind, smelly nappies, & disturbed sleep. Once I cut allergens from my diet he was fine. He's now 10, and has beautiful skin and no other health issues.

Another one here. From my post natal group, a good 20% of them (group of 30) have it to varying degrees, and some also have allergies to things like soya, egg, strawberries, beef etc.

DS had a lot of the symptoms that Liverpool talks about. I discussed it with a paediatrician (ds was in hospital on an unrelated matter) and cut dairy out of my diet. It had an effect within a few days.

I accidentally ate dairy about a week ago and boy did I know it.

When he weans, I will try him on the milk ladder. Most of the post natal group babies have grown out of their allergies so hopeful he will too.

Hi after reading your post I'm wondering if my son has the same thing, he has been constipated for a week now and had a poo 3 days ago, before anyone starts gobbing off I have had him to his gp and ane,
He also has had the blocked nose, rash and foul smelling wind,
Think it's disgusting that some people are having the cheek to say things to people that are asking questions, they are asking advice which people are offering due to their experience, xxx

@ruthcarr1990 has your GP been helpful? X