Milk Allergy: By the Numbers

Milk allergy is one of the most common food allergies in U.S. children; affecting 1 to 5% of children. Symptoms of milk allergy can range from mild to fatal.

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.