Cow’s milk allergy is the most common allergy among infants and young children.1,2 A milk allergy, like every allergy, is when your immune system mistakenly identifies one or both of these proteins as harmful. When you ingest these proteins, your immune system responds and releases histamines, which then cause your allergic symptoms.
Between 2–3% of children younger than age 3 are allergic to milk.1 Nearly all infants who develop an allergy to milk do so in their first year of life, but about 80% are likely to outgrow their milk allergy.3 But this research also suggests that children are outgrowing their milk allergy more slowly than before, with many children still allergic beyond age 5.3
Since the majority of children do outgrow their milk allergy, periodic re-evaluation—including testing—is recommended.
However, children who have high levels of cow’s milk antibodies in their blood are most likely to have a milk allergy for life.3 A simple blood test that measures these antibodies can help your healthcare professional determine whether or not your child is likely to outgrow their milk allergy.
Common signs and symptoms of milk allergy can include:
Infants and children who are allergic to milk are more likely to have eczema (atopic dermatitis) and other allergies.4,5
Allergic reactions to cow’s milk vary from person to person. Your reaction can occur from just minutes to hours later after ingesting something that contains milk.
Reactions can also range from mild to severe, including the life-threatening reaction anaphylaxis.
“Do I have a milk allergy?” isn’t a simple “yes” or “no” question. Milk allergy reactions can vary from localized reactions, such as a rash, to systemic reactions, including anaphylaxis. These reactions depend on which milk protein is causing the reaction.
Milk comprises different proteins; a person with a milk allergy could be reacting to one more of these proteins.
Specific IgE blood testing for milk components helps your healthcare provider identify the specific proteins that may cause your reactions. So instead of knowing that you're allergic to milk in general, you can know exactly which protein may trigger the reaction and the likelihood of outgrowing the allergy. Testing with allergen components can also be used to determine whether the allergy is to a protein that can be broken down when exposed to extensive heat, such as in cheese pizza or cookies. And component testing can help your healthcare provider determine whether an oral food challenge (OFC) test is recommended. An OFC test can be used to help confirm your milk allergy or to determine whether you have outgrown it.
Meaning, you can get answers to questions such as:
"Will cookies trigger my symptoms?"
"Can I potentially outgrow my milk allergy?"
Because it's not just knowledge you'll gain, but peace of mind, too.
Avoiding milk is much more complicated than just leaving the cheese off of your burger. Milk can be a hidden ingredient in many foods—which is why it’s important to read the label or ask before buying or eating any food. Ingredients in packaged foods can change at any time—and without warning—so always read labels carefully.
Milk can be found in a variety of foods including:
Dairy products like cheese, cream, butter, yogurt and ice cream
Candy
Breads and pastries
Processed meat like ham, sausages, pates
Hydrolyzed milk baby formula
Manufactured foods including baking mixes, potato chips, canned soups and chicken broth
There is a high degree of cross-reactivity between cow's milk and the milk from other mammals. Cross-reactivity is when the proteins in one food are similar to the proteins in another and your body's immune system sees them as the same. So, people who are allergic to cow’s milk are often advised to also avoid milk from other domestic animals like sheep, goats and buffalo. In studies, the risk of an allergic reaction to goat's milk or sheep's milk in a person with a cow’s milk allergy is about 90%.6
When milk is thoroughly heated or cooked, the proteins change shape and for some people this could mean that their immune system will no longer overreact to the protein. In fact, studies have shown that 75% of children with a milk allergy can actually tolerate baked foods containing milk, like a muffin or cake.7,8
This means some people with a milk allergy can go to a birthday party and taste the cake, as opposed to skipping the cake (or the party) completely. A simple blood test can help your healthcare professional determine if you’re a good candidate for an oral food challenge to see if you’re likely to tolerate baked milk.
Milk allergy is often confused with lactose intolerance because you can have the same digestive symptoms, like bloating, gas or diarrhea, with both. While a milk allergy is an immune system reaction to milk protein, with lactose intolerance the body can’t digest lactose (milk sugar). Lactose intolerance doesn’t cause an immune system reaction, so although it can cause discomfort, it’s not life-threatening.
If you suffer digestive problems after eating or drinking milk or dairy products, talk to your healthcare professional about a simple blood test.
There are several good reasons why a blood test should be considered: Testing is easy to perform and can help determine whether the symptoms are actually due to a milk allergy or not.
What can your My Symptom Profile tell you about allergies? Nothing, by itself. So resist the temptation to self-diagnose. Treating allergy symptoms with over-the-counter medications or other remedies without determining the cause could lead to more issues in the long run. When paired with testing, such as specific IgE blood testing for food or respiratory allergies, your My Symptom Profile can guide your healthcare provider in creating a customized trigger-management plan to help reduce exposure to suspected allergens.
Finished!
Download a PDF of your results to help guide your conversation and maximize your time with your healthcare provider.
What to know about specific IgE blood testing
What to know about specific IgE blood testing
What to know about specific IgE blood testing
What to know about specific IgE blood testing
If you think you or a loved one may have a milk allergy, don’t try to manage the problem on your own. A simple blood test - together with your medical history- can help identify underlying allergen triggers, if you have an allergy.
Knowing if you’re allergic and what you’re allergic to can help you get relief. Be sure to consult your healthcare professional.