After drinking milk, you may experience various adverse reactions. Although you may think you are allergic to milk, it is more likely that you are lactose intolerant, according to MayoClinic.com. The two conditions can cause similar gastric symptoms, making it difficult to identify. Both conditions are incurable but manageable through diet modification. See your doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment options.
Milk Allergy Background
A milk allergy is one of the most common food-related allergies, according to KidsHealth.org. Milk is divided into whey and casein proteins. Whey constitutes about 20 percent of the proteins, with casein proteins making up the remainder. It is the protein in milk that causes an allergic reaction. You could be allergic to either protein, although it's recommended to avoid both if you have a milk allergy. Pay attention to the ingredients in foods you eat, as milk proteins are not always obvious in certain foods, such as lunch meat, breads and baked goods.
Allergic Reaction
If you are allergic to milk and you consume dairy products, your immune system mistakes the proteins as a dangerous substance and begins to build up a resistance against them. The immune system creates immunoglobulin E, or IgE, which are antibodies that work to fight off the proteins. The presence of IgE antibodies in the bloodstream causes mast cells in soft tissue to produce histamine. Histamine is a chemical in the body that helps fight off infection, but in higher quantities it causes inflammation, which leads to most milk allergy symptoms.
Lactose Intolerance
The main difference with lactose intolerance is that it does not affect the immune system. Lactose intolerance is the inability of the small intestine to create enough lactase, the proper enzyme to digest the sugar found in milk, according to MayoClinic.com. When you consume lactose, the lack of lactase causes inflammation and irritation to form in the intestines, which leads to common symptoms. Every person has a different degree of intolerance toward lactose. One person may be able to tolerate 1 cup of milk, while another can't handle 1/4 cup or milk.
Comparison
Symptoms shared between the two conditions include bloating, gas, diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain and nausea. Because a milk allergy affects the immune system, you will develop symptoms unrelated to the digestive system, such as asthma, skin reactions and nasal congestion, according to KidsHealth. Within minutes of ingesting dairy, you can experience difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, hives, eczema, skin itchiness, tingling in the mouth, sinus pressure and a runny nose.
