If you are allergic to cow's milk, baby oftentimes will vomit or have diarrhea after drinking formula milk orcow's milk. However, that's not the only symptom. There are other symptoms or signs that can appear in babies who are allergic to cow's milk.
Cow's milk allergy is one of the most common types of food allergies in babies. The risk of the baby experiencing allergies will be higher if one or both parents also have a history of allergies.
Apart from drinking formula milk directly, your little one can also show allergic reactions when he consumes processed cow's milk products or drinks breast milk from mothers who consume cow's milk.
Milk allergy is often confused with lactose intolerance because usually the two conditions are very similar, namely babies are not suitable for formula milk. In fact, the two are very different conditions.
Cow's milk allergy occurs when a baby's immune system overreacts to the proteins in milk, whereas lactose intolerance occurs when a baby has difficulty digesting lactose (the natural sugar in milk).
Recognize Signs-Tyour baby is allergic to cow's milk
When your child has a cow's milk allergy, he will show the following symptoms:
- Digestive disorders, such as cramps or abdominal pain, vomiting, flatulence, and diarrhea.
- Itching and rash on the skin.
- Swelling in certain body parts.
- Coughs.
- Runny nose.
- Watery eyes.
- Fussy or crying a lot.
Every baby who has a cow's milk allergy can show different symptoms. Symptoms can appear quickly within minutes of drinking cow's milk, but can also appear several hours afterward.
Although rare, some infants and children can experience a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) characterized by shortness of breath, fainting, and swelling of the tongue, lips, or throat.
Do this when the baby is allergic to cow's milk
The easiest and best way to prevent a baby who is allergic to cow's milk from experiencing an allergic reaction is to breastfeed for the first six months of his life (exclusive breastfeeding).
When breastfeeding your little one, it is recommended not to consume intake from cow's milk and its products, such as cheese and yogurt, because as long as you are breastfeeding, whatever you consume will affect the content of your breast milk.
Meanwhile, if you give formula milk to your little one, choose milk that says hypoallergenic specially made to reduce the risk of allergies. Mothers can also give your little one formula milk from soybeans.
However, keep an eye on whether your little one is suitable for the type of milk given, because some babies who are allergic to cow's milk may also be allergic to soy.
If your child's cow's milk allergy makes it difficult to gain weight, has difficulty getting healthy food intake, has frequent relapses, or an anaphylactic reaction occurs, immediately take your child to the pediatrician for further treatment and advice.