Milk allergy can cause spasms that affect your gastrointestinal or respiratory tract. While most allergic reactions cause nothing more than abdominal spasms or cramps, some can cause severe, even potentially life-threatening spasms of the throat and lungs that could make breathing impossible. While milk allergies occur most often in children, according to pediatrician Scott Sicherer, M.D., of Mount Sinai School of Medicine, a milk allergy can develop at any age in anyone.
Causes
Allergic reactions occur when your immune system produces certain antibodies, called IgE antibodies, to proteins in milk. When you ingest the "invader" protein, your body produces substances such as histamine, which causes inflammatory changes in the GI and respiratory tracts and contracts smooth muscle found in the bronchial tubes and intestine. Histamine also increases the permeability of blood vessels, which causes the fluid leaking and swelling that often accompanies GI and respiratory symptoms of a severe milk allergy reaction.
Abdominal Spasms
Histamine release in the stomach and other parts of the gastrointestinal tract causes contractions, or spasms, of intestinal smooth muscle. Contractions from an allergic reaction can cause GI symptoms such as nausea, indigestion, diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal cramps. Antihistamines, which block histamine release, can decrease intestinal symptoms.
Respiratory Spasms
In the respiratory tract, spasms and tissue swelling from inflammation in different areas can make breathing difficult and uncomfortable. In severe cases, spasms of the bronchial tubes or laryngeal spasm can make breathing impossible and can lead to death if you don't receive immediate medical attention. Symptoms to watch for if you have a milk allergy include wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, feeling like you're not getting enough air or rapid heartbeat as your body attempts to move oxygen to all the tissues. Antihistamines may not be strong enough or act quickly enough if you develop bronchial spasms. You may need a shot of epinephrine, a form of adrenaline, to relax the smooth muscle to allow you to breathe.
Warnings
Although as many as 25 percent of people believe they have food allergies, only 4 to 8 percent of children and 2 percent of adults actually do, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Most severe allergic reactions occur from exposure to food allergens, with 90 percent of reactions occurring from eight foods, including milk. A very small amount of milk can cause spasms and potentially life-threatening reactions if you have a milk allergy.
References
- American Family Physician; Manifestations of Food Allergy: Evaluation and Management ; Scott Sicherer; January 1999
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Food Allergies; March 2010
- UpToDate; Anaphylaxis Symptoms and Diagnosis; F. Estelle R. Simons, M.D.; June 2008
- University of Parma; Histamine and the Gastrointestinal Tract; Giuseppina Morini
