A whey protein food allergy is most common in young children, but anyone can develop an allergy to the protein in whey, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Whey is the liquid substance that is found in cow's milk. The types of protein found in whey can cause an overreaction of the immune system, called an allergic reaction. People who are allergic to whey are advised by MayoClinic.com to avoid the consumption of all cow's milk products because of the chance of cross-contamination. Talk with a doctor for a proper diagnosis.
Allergic Reaction
An allergic reaction occurs because of a malfunction of the immune system. The immune system protects the body from harmful substances, such as viruses and bacteria. When an individual has an allergy to whey, her immune system reacts to the proteins as if they are harmful. The immune system develops specific antibodies to attack the whey protein, which triggers the release of histamine, according to KidsHealth.org. This chemical reaction in the body produces common allergy symptoms.
Effect
The effects of ingesting whey protein, if someone has an allergy to it, are hives, itching, chest tightness, nausea, sinus congestion, stomach pain and tingling in the tongue, throat or lips, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The increased levels of histamine in the body can cause inflammation in the sinuses, lungs and digestive tract. Histamine can also cause certain tissue to tighten, leading to asthmatic symptoms. Whey protein will affect each individual differently and, in some cases, can lead to death.
Avoidance
Because there is no cure to a whey protein allergy, the patient needs to avoid the consumption of whey as much as possible. The FDA requires all pre-packaged foods to disclose whey on the products label. Sometimes the ingredients of a food are difficult to identify as containing whey because of different wording used. Some common ingredients that might contain whey are casein, yogurt, pudding, non-dairy creamers and butter, according to KidsHealth.org. Eat foods that are labeled "vegan," because vegan foods do not contain any animal byproducts.
Treatment
MayoClinic.com states that minor symptoms of a whey protein allergy can be treated with antihistamines. Antihistamines reduce the amount of histamine produced by mast cells and relieve some allergy-related symptoms. If someone experiences anaphylactic shock, she may need an epinephrine injection to save her life.
Testing
Testing for a whey allergy may include blood tests, skin tests and a food elimination diet. Blood tests look for increased IgE antibody levels, skin tests use the skin to see what potential allergens cause a reaction and a food elimination diet will remove dairy-based products from the diet and slowly re-introduce them one at a time to see which foods cause allergy symptoms.
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