The Mayo Clinic reports that an allergy to milk and its byproducts is the most common type of allergy to food children experience. It generally is confined to milk from cows, but milk from other animals such as buffalo, sheep and goats, as well as from the soybean plant's milk, can be equally a cause of allergic discomfort. While most children will tend to lose their allergy to dairy products by the time they reach age 3, it can be quite serious on rare occasions.
Skin Symptoms
When a child who is allergic to dairy products drinks milk or eats cheese or other dairy-derived foods, he may immediately get hives, which are raised swollen areas on the skin. The child also may experience a rash on the skin near his mouth that can be quite itchy.
Abdominal Symptoms
The first symptom from dairy allergies to hit a child's stomach may be vomiting. This is an obvious reaction of the body to physically rid itself of the dairy product. Later, other symptoms may present themselves such as diarrhea or at least stools that are looser than normal and have the potential of containing blood. There also may be abdominal cramps.
Other Symptoms
A dairy allergy may cause wheezing when the child breathes immediately following consumption of a dairy product. Wheezing is a noise that occurs when breathing and is high pitched. It typically occurs during exhalation. Later symptoms may include coughing, watery eyes and a runny nose. Babies may get colic, which generally is characterized by long periods of crying possibly due to pain such as a stomachache, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening condition that blocks the breathing of the child by narrowing her airways. Anaphylaxis requires immediate emergency medical aid. The tell-tale signs of anaphylaxis include itching, flushing or reddening of the face, breathing difficulties and shock in which the child's blood pressure drops severely. Get to a hospital immediately if your child exhibits any of these signs. The Mayo Clinic recommends telling your physician about any potential allergic reaction to dairy products because they can be an indication that more severe problems may occur.
