A study in the May 2013 issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology reports:

• 20%:  the percentage of food-allergic children who have milk allergy
• 2 years:  the average age of first milk allergy symptoms (other food allergies was 4 years old)
• 31%:  the occurrence of severe allergic reactions (other food allergies was 47%)
• Presenting symptoms:  vomiting (48%), diarrhea (46%), hives (35%), and eczema (35%)
• Most common severe symptoms:  wheezing (21%) and trouble breathing (17%)
• 4 years old:  average age at which milk allergy resolved; (6 years old with other allergies)
• Milk-allergic children were twice as likely to outgrow milk allergy compared to other food allergies
• 47% of milk allergic children also had seasonal allergies (hay fever) and 1/3 of these were springtime
• Older children are twice as likely to have severe milk allergy symptoms compared to children < 2 years old.
• Caucasian children are more than twice as likely to experience milk allergy compared to African American or Asian children

At Family Allergy Asthma & Sinus Care, we can evaluate for true milk allergy so unnecessary measures that may significantly affect a child’s quality of life can be avoided.