Five Steps to Take if You Believe Your Child Has a Milk Allergy

While it is actually fairly uncommon for a child to have a milk allergy, if you have reasons to suspect they do have one, then there is likely something going on. Whether it is a milk allergy or another type of allergy, it is important to get help right away. Keep reading to learn what steps to take, and then contact Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Medical Group right away for food allergy testing.

1. Stop Giving Your Child Dairy Products
The first thing is to remove dairy from your child’s diet. Again, very few children have milk allergies. One study found that just over 6% of children have any type of food allergy, and only 1.1% have a cow milk allergy. That said, your child could be one of the 1.1%. If it seems your child has allergy symptoms after they consume milk or other dairy products, do not provide your child with dairy products.
2. Visit an Allergist
The next step is to make an appointment with an allergist who can complete food allergy testing. This will confirm if there is an allergy to milk or if something else is to blame. There are a number of options we can use to determine the culprit, including blood testing, skin prick tests, or trial elimination diets. Which option is right for your child will depend on their symptoms, their comfort level, and other factors.
3. Get Additional Allergy Testing
It is very likely that a child who has one food allergy will have more than one food allergy. It is also two to four times more likely that they will have or develop allergic asthma. It is essential to have them tested for this and other allergies so you can be sure that you are catching any issues as early as possible.
4. Follow the Instructions of Your Doctor
Once your doctor has determined the allergies your child is suffering from, they are going to give you instructions and recommendations. Make sure you follow them. The goal is to protect your child from having future allergic reactions. You should learn how to read food labels and what medications could have milk or other dairies in them.
5. Make Sure Your Child is Getting Proper Nutrition
If your child cannot have milk or dairy, then you will need to consider how to ensure they are getting all the nutrients they need. Calcium is likely the first one that comes to mind for you, but remember that milk is also generally supplemented with vitamin D. If your child is not drinking milk, then their vitamin D consumption will be way down.

The good news is that there are plenty of non-dairy foods that have all the nutrients you need. When you work with Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Medical Group, we can help make sure your child is safe and following the right program.