Allergy testing

[VickiKat]

Hi, so my son of 5 has had runny poo for about 2 years now (it came on after a tummy bug) - the nhs offered us a celiac test (said they vant test for dairy) which was negative and we then took him off dairy which made his symptoms better but not perfect. We have been told he has IBS (I worry he has it at 5) and a dairy intolerance. Can you test for a dairy allergy? My husband is convinced it is nothing to do with dairy, but is anxiety. I have tried the milk ladder but his symptoms are so up and down. Any thoughts please.....

It could be that he's getting a reaction to Dairy not it's a non-ige allergy, which used to be referred to as an intolerance.

Unfortunately, there's no test but symptoms should clear up of dairy is removed from his diet, which sounds like what's happened.

You can test for lactose intolerance. I’m sure you can even pay for your own kit.

Two of mine have been tested for a milk allergy (as in the test where they prick you, dab the liquid on and wait to see if a rash comes out) but I assume that only shows ige allergies.

Have you cut milk from his diet?

Dairy can take up to a few weeks to completely leave the body so I suggest cutting it out for longer. Also could be a wheat allergy, not necessarily gluten on the whole, so wouldn't get picked up on the test.

There’s no testing for a diary allergy sometimes known as CMPA . . It can take between 6-8 weeks for the milk proteins to fully leave the body .

You need to try the milk ladder when he’s completely settling this I know is easier said than done .

Does he have any other symptoms? . I know CMPA can start after damage to the lining of the stomach which in your sons cause would be the vomiting bug.

Wondering if there could also be another allergy in there , often those with CMPA have a soya allergy ?

I would go back to being dairy free for 8 weeks and then if no improvement remove soya from his diet . Make a note of any foods he eats and if they make his symptoms worse . A delayed food non Ige reaction can take upto 72 hours to appear .

My 6 month old is IGE to milk after we got skin prick testing so on the road of weaning him dairy free

Lactose and dairy allergies are different things, and yes you can be tested for both.

You can test for ige dairy allergy. You can't test for non-ige allergy..the only way to identify that is to remove all dairy (including hidden dairy) from the diet for 6-8 weeks, then challenge the allergy by drinking a large glass of milk or a yogurt and see if symptoms return. You don't do the milk ladder to confirm the allergy, that comes later if you want to reintroduce dairy.

You may also want to avoid soya as people with CMPA often react to soya too.

I'd also keep a food (and poo) diary.

As others have said it takes a while to fully remove the dairy. Try cutting it out completely and introducing a probuitic to help his gut to heal. if things are more settled in a couple if months you can try to introduce at bottom rung of the milk ladder and take it slowly. Non ige allergies are such a pain to work out as the symptoms could be so many other things!

Hi, thank you all so much. Where do you get an allergy test (skin prick testing etc)? Can I get one on the nhs or do I need to look privately? Interesting re wheat and soya. It is so tricky. He has been dairy free since June except for a short try with the milk ladder. A probiotic did help a bit but then the one we were using became unavailable everywhere so I need to find another...so much to work out!

My ds is very allergic to dairy, showed up in skin prick tests and bloods.
Go to your dr and ask to be referred to a paediatric allergy consultant, they will test there.

You can get it on the NHS through the dieticians service or through a paediatrician. I know a lot have people have been going privately though as there's a big wait in some areas of the country.

It will only show if he is IGE (so a immediate reaction) they can also be unreliable. DD is allergic to milk, soya, eggs and wheat but her soya presents like a IGE but doesn't show on bloods nor skin prick so is medically classed as non-IGE.

Main cmpa group on Facebook is great for help with allergies

Try first for an NHS referral.

Most private allergy and intolerance testing is a scam. It's a market riddled with fake science, 'alternative' diagnostics, unregistered practitioners with impressive sounding but meaningless qualifications, etc.. By definition intolerances can't be determined by testing (even with lactose intolerance there are three tests but all are indicative rather than diagnostic) and many of the allergy tests being offered aren't the right test.