Muscle spasms in the abdomen can be a result of a milk allergy. Various digestive complications can form shortly after drinking milk if you're allergic to it. Milk allergies are not the same condition as milk protein intolerance or lactose intolerance, according to the Cleveland Clinic. These other conditions are digestive disorders, while a milk allergy is an immune system reaction. If you develop muscle spasms after the consumption of dairy products, you need to call your doctor for further assessment.
Immune Reaction
A milk allergy is an overreaction of the immune system. Whenever a substance is introduced into the body, the immune system either identifies it as safe or harmful. Harmful substances that are attacked may include toxins, viruses and bacteria. If you're allergic to milk, your immune system mistakes the proteins in milk, casein and whey, as dangerous substances, according to Kids Health. The body reacts to the proteins the same way it would to an unsafe substance. Immunoglobulin E, or IgE antibodies, are created to fight against the milk proteins, resulting in common milk allergy symptoms.
Stomach Spasms
When your body produces IgE antibodies, it triggers mast cells located throughout your body to create histamine. Histamine is a chemical that protects the body from infection, but can cause swelling, irritation and inflammation in soft tissue. As histamine is released in your intestines, they can swell, become inflamed and begin to cramp. The cramping and irritation can cause abdominal pain and spasms, followed by diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. After the milk is expelled from the body, the spasms should subside.
Diagnosis
Your doctor will want to clinically diagnose your condition by performing various allergy tests to confirm the suspected milk allergy. Allergy testing consists of skin and blood tests, according to MayoClinic.com. Small amounts of casein and whey proteins are injected under the top layer of your skin to see if the skin becomes red, swollen and irritated. A blood test uses a sample of your blood to see if it creates IgE antibodies when milk proteins are introduced.
Treatment
Once you've ingested milk, there is nothing you can do to treat the stomach cramping and spasms. You have to wait until the body rids itself of the proteins. The most effective treatment for a milk allergy is to avoid the consumption of milk proteins, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Milk proteins may be found in unlikely products, such as nondairy creamers, hard candy and chocolate.
