Fatigue from a dairy allergy is related to sinus pressure. A common symptom of a milk allergy is nasal congestion that can cause sinus headaches to develop shortly after ingesting dairy. A dairy allergy is commonly mistaken for lactose intolerance because they share similar digestive symptoms. If you develop adverse reactions after eating or drinking dairy products, you need to talk to your doctor. Dairy allergies can cause a severe allergic reaction that can lead to death if not treated.
Identification
Your doctor will diagnose your condition based on your symptoms, medical history and tests. Allergy tests may include skin and blood tests to determine if your body overreacts and creates immunoglobulin E, or IgE antibodies when exposed to dairy proteins. Once diagnosed, your doctor will recommend that you avoid all products that contain dairy. This may be more difficult than it appears because milk is widely used in unlikely products, such as hot dogs, hard candy and nondairy creamers. Removing all dairy from your diet will prevent fatigue and other common symptoms.
Fatigue
If you feel fatigue while experiencing an allergic reaction to milk, it is because of nasal congestion. Ingesting dairy with a milk allergy will cause inflammation to form in your sinus cavities, cutting off your ability to breathe through your nose. The pressure that forms from the swollen sinuses can cause headaches and pain felt throughout the head. Fatigue is a common symptom of sinus headaches because of pressure on the back of the eyes.
Other Symptoms
A dairy allergy will cause other symptoms to form that can help identify the allergic reaction. Dairy allergies can cause asthma, digestive complications and skin rashes to form. Asthma symptoms that can develop include difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, chest pain and tightness. You can become nauseous, vomit and experience diarrhea as a result of drinking milk if you're allergic to it. Common skin rashes include hives, eczema and general swelling and itching.
Treatment
Treatment for fatigue related to a milk allergy is focused on alleviating the sinus pressure. Decongestants are used to reduce the swelling in the sinuses, providing relief to sinus pressure and the ability to breathe through your nose. Antihistamines can help reduce the inflammation in soft tissue throughout the body, causing allergy symptoms to diminish.
