dairy allergy, can it be tested?

[Still_Learning]

DS had a severe reaction to dairy as a newborn. (exclusively breastfed, but he reacted to it in my diet)

He's 13 months now and after several tries reintroducing it to my diet, I don't want to do it again until I KNOW he's grown out of it (if he does)

Can he be tested for a diary allergy and if so, what does that involve?

[circlemama]

He could be tested by blood (RAST) or skin (skin prick test). These test are never 100% accurate, and become more accurate after the age of two.
What do you mean by "severe" reaction? I would wait until age three if the reaction included vomiting, hives, etc.

[Still_Learning]

He would get bad eczema and terrible gas pains.

[wendy1221]

It's common for newborns to get bad gas and eczema from dairy thru mom's milk and then quickly outgrow the intolerance/alergy. My nephew is anaphylactic to dairy and eggs and got diarrhea and rashes from them through mom's milk. She had him skin prick tested at 1 and then again at 2 years (and probably yearly since then. He's 4 how and they're still severe allergies) I would suggest having him tested at an allergist's office if you suspect a severe allergy rather than testing it at home by feeding him something. They are prepared for severe reactions there. KWIM?

[Chanley]

The skin prick test is good for true allergies. Think hives, rashes etc....


Gastric problems sound like an intolerance. Skin prick test is completely bogus for that. A dairy challenge is the best way to try.


It is really crucial that you understand the difference between an allergy and an intolerance.

Is he still nursing?

If so...I would start out by eating some hard aged cheese. The harder the better digested the protiens. Ease into it. Start with hard cheese, then yogurt. Go slow and give it a few weeks between new things to fully see a problem.

If he is not nursing. Try adding some SLOWLY. Hard cheese and specific carbohydrate 24 hour yogure would be my first choice in trying it.

[Chanley]

The skin prick test is good for true allergies.


Gastric problems and eczema sound like an intolerance. Skin prick test is completely bogus for that. A dairy challenge is the best way to try.


It is really crucial that you understand the difference between an allergy and an intolerance.

Is he still nursing?

If so...I would start out by eating some hard aged cheese. The harder the better digested the protiens. Ease into it. Start with hard cheese, then yogurt. Go slow and give it a few weeks between new things to fully see a problem.

If he is not nursing. Try adding some SLOWLY. Hard cheese and specific carbohydrate 24 hour yogure would be my first choice in trying it.

[Missy]

It is very important to realize that allergic reactions via breastmilk are frequently very different than they are when the child ingests the food directly. Gastric reactions and eczema are both symptoms of allergies, particularly when exposed indirectly. My ds2 reacted to dairy via breastmilk with both of those symptoms and so dairy was completely eliminated from my diet when he was two months old (three years ago); he is now anaphylactic via airborne and contact and I have no desire to see what would happen to him if we ever trialed it via ingestion, even slowly, even with hard cheese or yogurt (his last ana reaction was to a small **skin** contact with yogurt, never touched his lips).

Both his SPT (at 6 months) and his RAST (at 22 months) corresponded with his reactions and we still have to leave grocery stores, etc...if they are cooking food samples that contain dairy because his eyes will start swelling.

Many babies do outgrow their allergies within the first 12 to 18 months, but, if you've noticed visible reactions to dairy while he was nursing, I would follow through with some sort of testing. If the tests are negative, I would wait and few months and trial via breastmilk again. A good allergist will tell you that reaction trumps test.

Missy

[Still_Learning]

Thank you all so much. I am planning on going to an allergest in a few months and see what happens. If the tests don't show that he's allergic, I will carefully reintroduce it into my diet, but wait until he's at LEAST 2 before I intro it into his.



Thanks so much!

[TRIBE]

Missy--

Did you experience any difficulty removing dairy from your diet? My dd gets horrible rash when I have dairy products. I rarely drink milk so dropping that was a non issue but I do enjoy cheese, butter, yogurt, cottage cheese, sour cream and occasionally ice cream. I do semi-vegetarian but am a bit nervous of trying Vegan varieties of the dairy foods I love.

[Missy]

Honestly? Even three years later, I still have cravings for foods that I have eliminated (hence my very sad post in TAO in the thread about favorite Ben & Jerry flavors)--but I get over it. My son was seriously ill and that was a great motivator. He's healthy now, and happy, and so I'm happy. I can live without the foods if it keeps him healthy. I can't answer for the dairy subs; most contain soy and he's allergic to soy also. Rice cheeses contain casein, so they're out, too. I learned to rely on foods with strong flavor--like olives. Anything that was safe and added an extra layer or depth to my food. His only confirmed allergen that he doesn't react to via breastmilk is wheat, so right now I'm eating a really good salad made with a green spring mix, couscous, Trader Joe's bean salad, mushrooms and peppers, and a little beef. Very strong flavors, nice texture.

When I do have severe cravings, I'll come here to post, just as a vent, and I feel much better.

Missy

[TRIBE]

I have to say munching a salad while my family noshes on some yummy smelling pizza just doesn't do it for me :LOL
I just saw the long list of dairy derivitives and wow. I already read labels but now Im looking to avoid very specific things. I am going to have to print out my list and take it with me to the store. Most of what we eat is fresh but we do use the occasional canned or boxed item. At least noone will touch the olives I buy

[Missy]

I have to say munching a salad while my family noshes on some yummy smelling pizza just doesn't do it for me

That's where I'm "lucky"--Ds2's dairy allergy is too severe to even have it in the house, so I'm not looking at it all the time

[WC_hapamama]

If you do have him tested, wait until age 2, or insist on skin testing. RAST testing is less accurate for kids under 18 months. My dd was RAST tested for her milk allergy at 18 months old, and it came back negative... she was reacting to it anyway. Another RAST test done at 30 months came back positive for milk allergy.

[WC_hapamama]

Originally Posted by Jenniebug

I have to say munching a salad while my family noshes on some yummy smelling pizza just doesn't do it for me :LOL

My dairy allergic DD loves the Toffuti Pizza Pizzaz. They're dairy free, and the cheese on them is somewhat like those Kraft American singles... not gourmet, but vaguely cheese-like. I load them down with dairy free pepperoni (hormel turkey pepperoni), olives and mushrooms and she loves them.