Nutramigen Puramino Powder (400g)

Milk Allergies and Intolerances

What is Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy?

Cow’s milk protein allergy is most common in newborns and young children and predominantly occurs when the immune system has an allergic reaction to proteins which are found in cow’s milk.

What is Cow’s Milk Protein Intolerance?

Cow’s milk protein intolerance is also most common in infants and young children. The differences between allergy and intolerance is that cow’s milk protein allergy is systematically related to the immune system whereas an intolerance could be for a number of different reasons which may or may not be related to the immune system.

How do I know if I child is suffering from Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy and/or Cow’s Milk Protein Intolerance?

There are several key indicators which help to establish whether a child is suffering from CMPA/I. The most accurate/relevant symptoms are listed below:

• Eczema

• Itchy Skin

• Persistent Diarrhoea

• Repeated Vomiting

• Refusal to eat

• Colic

Making a diagnosis can be difficult as it is entirely possible that symptoms can occur several hours after feeding. It is possible that a child can have more then one symptom.

Which is the most common indicator for Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy/Intolerance?

The inflammatory skin condition called eczema is the most common and accurate indicator of an infant suffering from Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy/Intolerance. It has been heavily researched that food allergies occur in combination with atopic eczema. Statistical evidence shows that as many as 50-60% of infants who suffer from atopic eczema also suffer from Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy/Intolerance which further reinforces the link between the two. If a child is suffering from both Eczema and CMPA/I then their skin condition can get deteriorate with time.

Note: there is an increased risk of an infant developing atopic eczema if there is history of allergic symptoms in the family (mother/father). Examples would include eczema, hay-fever and asthama.

How can I help a child suffering from Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy/Intolerance?

Breast is Best! To offer more protection to infants who might be at risk of developing Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy/Intolerance it is recommended to choose breastfeeding over any other type of feeding method. A mother’s breast milk can reduce the risk of developing CMPA/I as the proteins contained in breast milk are better tolerated and utilised by the baby. Furthermore, breast milk is rich in unique ingredients which protect the undeveloped gut from unknown substances (food protein) and further reduces the risk of developing CMPA/I.

What infant formulas can be used to treat Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy/Intolerance?

It is well known that not all mother’s are in a position in breastfeed and if an infant is at risk of developing CMPA/I then a standard milk-based formula should be replaced with an hydrolysed hypoallergenic formula (Nutramigen Formula) or an amino-acid based formula (Neocate LCP). Soya formulas are not recommended as a treatment for newborns suffering from CMPA/I.

Can Soya Milk be used to Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy/Intolerance?

Cow’s milk is regarded as a suitable feed for infants and young children as Cow’s milk is high in all the beneficial nutrients which are necessary for optimum growth and development in infants and young children. There are many infant formulas which are based on soya, particularly targeted as a substitute feed to cow’s milk. As soya based infant feeds do not contain the essential vitamins and minerals for growth and development it is not advisable to choose a soya feed.