When people are allergic to dairy, they have allergies to the proteins in cow's milk (and occasionally goat's milk). These allergies are clearly different from being lactose intolerant, which some people call "allergic" to milk. With lactose intolerance, people cannot tolerate the sugar in milk, called lactose, because they don't have the corresponding digestive enzyme, lactase, to deal with the sugar lactose. Triggered by the digestive system, the body can respond in numerous ways, and usually with significant stomach upset. With true dairy allergy, the body's immune system responds each time it is exposed to cow's milk proteins.
People with a true dairy allergy can have a variety of symptoms when exposed to any type of dairy products, including those derived from milk such as whey or casein. They may have skin rashes, asthma, hives, and stomach upset in the form of vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation. Some will go into anaphylactic shock after initial exposure to dairy proteins, and this is medically urgent because it can affect breathing as the throat swells. True dairy allergy may mean carrying an epinephrine injection called an epi-pen at all times if anaphylactic shock has occurred in the past.
The way to treat a dairy allergy is to completely avoid any products that contain dairy, and this can be challenging. Even small amounts can trigger allergies in some people, which means that some people with dairy allergies may have to be sure that the food they eat could not have come into contact with any dairy products. Also, there are many things in foods that are derived from dairy, and these too should be carefully avoided.
Essentially, a dairy allergy means carefully reading packaging and looking for products like lactic acid, whey, caseinate, sodium caseinate, casein, and butter flavoring, in addition to the more obvious products like milk, cream, butter, and butter. ghee. People shouldn't be fooled by foods labeled "non-dairy," as they may still contain half percent dairy. Instead, the "dairy-free" label may be more helpful. It can also be important to make sure the food is not processed or created in plants where dairy products are used, as trace minerals in the equipment can be transferred to foods that are not technically supposed to contain dairy.
Some people actually outgrow their dairy allergy, but others remain highly allergic to milk proteins. There can certainly be issues with avoiding milk, as it's a great source of protein, especially in growing bodies. The problem can be easily addressed when bottle-fed babies use soy formula. Breastfed babies can do so safely, but mothers may need to eat a dairy-free diet if the baby has shown a dairy allergy.
In older children, it is essential to give calcium supplements to replace the calcium naturally found in milk. This can be given in fruit juices, and there are some vegetables with high levels of calcium. Children with extreme forms of this allergy may also need to wear an identification band. They should be warned not to accept food from others in settings such as school, as this can lead to serious illness, and any school or other place that cares for the child should be made aware of the allergy and the consequences of treating it lightly .