Recognize the Symptoms of Dairy Allergies

There is a major difference between milk or dairy allergies and lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest the lactose (milk sugar) found in dairy products. An allergy to milk is an immune system reaction to the proteins in the milk product. Serious problems can arise in a true dairy allergy.

Watch your Symptoms

Be aware of symptoms such as itching, hives, eczema, tingling or swelling of the tongue, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

Understanding

Understand that life-threatening symptoms can include anaphylaxis. This potentially fatal systemic reaction can occur in several parts of the body and requires immediate medical intervention.

Scope

Understand the possibility of having an allergic reaction to soy milk or goat's milk is present in those diagnosed with dairy allergies.

In Babies

Talk to your pediatrician if your infant experiences symptoms such as excessive colic, chronic runny nose, wheezing, rash or excoriated buttocks. This may indicate a milk allergy and require measures to treat the symptoms and the allergy.

Learn Ways to Treat Dairy Allergies

• Read labels for ingredients to avoid such as "milk," "sodium caseinate," "butter," "casein," "curds," "dried milk solids" and "whey."
• Obtain the best results by avoiding consumption of any dairy products. Substitute foods such as spinach, broccoli and other products to get important nutrients such as calcium and Vitamin D.
• Know what you are eating and drinking before consumption. Ask about the preparation of food when eating at a restaurant.
• Wear a medical identification tag or bracelet with information about your dairy allergy.
• Ask your doctor for injectable epinephrine to treat life-threatening reactions. Make sure your friends or family know where the epinephrine is located and how to use it.
• Look for words such as "non-dairy" or "parve" on food products. This indicates the product does not contain any milk protein.
• Recognize that many processed meats, such as sausages and hot dogs, often contain milk.
• Exclude milk from the diet of children 2 and 3 years old with proven allergy to dairy products. Many find this a most effective way to treat the allergy with total resolution. Some children retain the allergy for life.