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Worried about milk allergy or dairy intolerance?

You are probably reading this because you are wondering if your baby has a food intolerance or allergy. Maybe your baby is colicky, unsettled, prone to crying fits, is not putting on weight, has excessive wind, stomach pain or loose stools. One or more of these symptoms can (but does not necessarily) indicate a food intolerance. Another common reaction to a dairy intolerance is eczema.

The most common food intolerances are to dairy products, soya, and gluten. In this article I’m going to focus on dairy intolerance or sensitivity and cover the following areas of concern that you may have.

why do babies & children develop food intolerances?
the difference between an intolerance and an allergy
immediate vs delayed reactions
lactose or milk protein sensitivity?
diagnosis & testing of dairy intolerances
foods containing dairy products
foods with high calcium levels

Why do babies & children develop food intolerances?

Food intolerances are on the rise and affect between 6-8% of babies and children in western countries.

There aren’t any firm explanations of why this is happening but there are a few interesting theories. The first is that on the whole babies are born and brought up in very sterile environments in western countries, which means they have less exposure to dirt and germs. Because of the lack of “real” threats to fight against, the body turns on itself and starts attacking harmless proteins.

A second theory is that our bodies are so full of toxic and man made chemicals that we absorb through our every day environment, that the foetus in vitro becomes overloaded and is subsequently unable to cope with some natural chemicals such as proteins.

The third and final answer is that for some unknown reason babies bodies are simply not making enough of the enzymes needed to breakdown various foods.

Food Allergy vs Intolerance

The first thing I should explain is that an intolerance to a certain food is not the same as an allergy.

Only 1-2% of babies and children will have a full blown allergy. These tend to be more serious and occur when the body sees the food substance as harmful and creates antibodies against it which results in allergic symptoms. These can range from itchiness, hives, rashes, abdominal pain and diarrhea to asthma and anaphylaxis. Common foods that can cause an allergic reaction are milk, eggs, shellfish, peanuts and tree nuts. When an allergy causing food is eaten the reaction is usually fairly rapid. If there is any shortness of breath or swelling then call 911 straight away.

Immediate & Delayed Reactions

Immediate reactions to a food substance occur from a few minutes to a couple of hours after the food has been ingested. These kinds of immediate reactions are more likely to be an allergy.

Delayed reactions usually occur between 12- 72 hours and possibly up to 4 days after the food has been eaten. These are more likely to be an intolerance or sensitivity. It’s this kind of intolerance that is harder to diagnose because of the long time frame involved.

Is Lactose or Milk Protein the Problem?

So you’ve identified that it’s not an allergy but you still think you’re baby may have a problem with dairy foods.

Lactose Intolerance

Some babies are intolerant to lactose (milk sugar), some to milk protein. Lactose intolerance is well understood by health professionals and is related to a lack of lactase in the small bowel which is what the body uses to break down lactose. Frequent watery poos, flatulence, not gaining weight and stomach pain are the main symptoms. If your baby is born with this deficiency then he will be removed from a diet containing all milk – human and cow’s. This will be done under the supervision of your health practitioner. Apart from simply removing milk from the diet there are 3 main tests that can determine if your child is lactose intolerant.

Testing for Lactose intolerance

The Lactose Intolerance Test - The patient fasts before the test and then is given a lactose drink. Blood samples are then taken over a two hour period to measure the levels of glucose in the blood. This test determines whether the body is breaking down the lactose properly. (This test is not used for babies under 6 months old.)
The Hydrogen Breath Test - In this test the patient is given a lactose drink. The breath is then analysed to determine if there are higher than normal levels of hydrogen being exhaled. When lactose is not digested it ferments in the gut creating hydrogen. This then passes to the blood stream and is exhaled through the lungs. (This test is not used for babies under 6 months old.)
Stool Acidity Test - This is the most common test performed for babies under 6 months old. Lactose that is undigested creates lactic acid that will be present in the stool and can be detected by testing.

Milk Protein Intolerance

Milk protein intolerance is less well understood and is somewhat harder to test for. There are some tests available to buy on the internet or your doctor may decide to carry them out, but the main way to diagnose it is to eliminate all dairy from your child’s diet for two weeks (and yours too if you are breastfeeding) and see what difference it makes. If you are bottle feeding see your doctor, health visitor or midwife before trying a soya formula.

If removing dairy from the diet doesn’t make a difference then it may be that your baby is suffering from normal colic which is due to an immature bowel and will right itself in time. (I know it’s hard going coping with a colicky baby but there are some good medicines on the market and certain types of baby massage that can be really helpful too!) It’s also possible that your baby is intolerant to other foods in addition to, or instead of, dairy. Babies who have a dairy intolerance are more likely to also have a soy intolerance.

Do be careful about eliminating foods from yours and your child’s diet. Make sure you know what vitamins and minerals are in each food and research alternative sources (there is a list of calcium rich foods below). If you are worried or unsure about anything relating to your child’s health it’s always best to seek medical advice.

Testing for Milk Protein Intolerance

Allergy Skin Test - These can be carried out through your doctor or you can buy them on the market to do at home. The test involves pricking the skin with a small pin loaded with milk protein. If a wheal develops this shows that the body is reacting to milk protein.
Milk Allergy Test - Another test available also involves taking a very small amount of blood through a pin prick. The levels of IgE (allergy antibodies) are determined and can tell you if there is a sensitivity to milk.

WARNING! There are lots of companies out there saying they can diagnose milk protein and lactose intolerances who show very flimsy proof of their reliability – be particularly wary of ones that offer energy scanning.

The York Test is probably the best test available. The initial yes/no test is only £20 but further testing is quite expensive.

Hidden Dairy Products & Good Sources of Calcium

So you’ve finally found out the problem and discovered your baby or child has a dairy intolerance. Your weekly grocery shop will never be the same! You will become intimately acquainted with every single food that contains a milk product and you will be surprised at how many there are! Ones that were a shock to me included crisps, gravy, stock cubes, bread crumbed food, cereals, sweets and processed meats, The best way to cope with buying and cooking food for your child is to make everything fresh and cut out processed foods. I have noticed that most processed foods have some kind of milk product in them as it’s used as a flavour enhancer. Look out especially for whey and casein which are both derived from cow’s milk. Replace cow’s milk with soya or rice milk (which can both be used in cooking). Dairy free margarines, yogurts, ice-cream and cheese are available in the majority of supermarkets and most of them contain added calcium and other vitamins. Goat’s milk is also an alternative for some dairy free children and worth a try.

There are now an array of FREE FROM foods so your child will still be able to have treats. The hardest times for our little one (and us) are children’s birthday parties. There are so many things she can’t eat at them, including the cake, that I always take some treats with us so that she doesn’t feel left out. And if we are going to meet with friends I make her food and bring it with us just in case.

Calcium rich foods include wholewheat bread, green vegetables, sesame seeds, oily fish such as mackerel, salmon and halibut, tofu, rhubarb and oranges. Most soya alternatives and cereals are also fortified with calcium.

The hardest thing about dairy intolerance is diagnosing it (and sometimes getting your doctor to listen). But once you know what the problem is it’s easy enough to avoid foods containing dairy and your child will come to know what they can and can’t eat too.

Don’t take the advice of well meaning friends and relatives who tell you to keep feeding your baby or child dairy because that will “help them grow out of it”. This is not true. It will actually make things worse and could lead onto a full blown allergy. Your child may grow out of it in time or may not, whatever the outcome they will still grow up to be healthy and strong and that’s the main thing.

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Many people these days suffer from eye allergies. The main reasons are the pollutant atmosphere and the amount of dirt present in the air. Often, people working in the outdoors are easy victims of eye allergies and troubles related to them.

Instances such as severe pain or irritations in eyes are common occurrences seen in many individuals. Though, there are many eye drops for treating these eye problems, people are unaware about the solutions and many of them use inappropriate eye drops for curing problems in the eyes.

Effects like burning and excess watering in the eyes or even swelling is possible if you ignore the allergy at the initial stages. Many people are frequent sufferers and thus, they need to be extra careful. Many eye drops specially cure the problems regarding various allergies of eyes. However, people are still confused about the use of these eye drops, as they wonder if these allergy eye drops work or they are just eyewash in the form of a temporary solution.

There are studies conducted that have reports suggesting that these allergy eye drops are effective against various eye allergy symptoms. However, some aspects, which the users need to take care, are that they need to look for the allergy eye drop that particularly addresses a specific kind of eye allergy only. This is essential, as people are too casual and use any form of eye drop to cure any type of eye allergy problem and end up deteriorating the condition.

This is an improper practice, as there are specific allergy eye drops for every allergy symptom and you may use them for proper cure of the eye discomfort that you are suffering from. The use of anti-inflammatory allergy eye drops is advisable for easing the negative effects of swelling in the eyes along with the problems due to the irritation. Such eye drops are always safe when suggested by eye doctors.

Self-application of the drops may have some side effects and is very dangerous too, as eyes the most delicate organs in a human body. Hence, it is always vital to have the right prescription from the eye doctor before going for any eye drops.

However, there are some common eye drops available in the market, which are for cooling purpose. They help in the functions such as cleaning the eyes and keeping them cool, which makes the eyes healthier. These common eye drops are not effective against the serious allergies that require immediate attention of an eye expert.

Hence, serious attention is must in case of any kind of severe eye allergy. Application of appropriate allergy eye drops is the best solution and you can continue this practice for a long period to avoid the reoccurrence of eye allergy.

A hives allergy condition will normally happen when your body is allergic to something you’ve been exposed to. It could be caused by a medicine you’re taking, or perhaps something you’ve eaten. You’ll recognize the hives by their appearance – usually large, swollen red patches on the skin. They tend to come on various sizes and itch like crazy.

Such an outbreak could also be the result of an infection you have as your immune system overreacts and tries to fight it off. If this is the case, you may need the help of your doctor. However, hives caused by an allergic reaction can normally be treated with OTC medicines or natural remedies. Of course, avoiding the allergen will clear up your condition as well.

Any type of medicine containing antihistamine can work to relieve hives allergy symptoms. You should be aware however, that many of these types of pills will cause you to become sleepy.

Avoid them if you’re driving or in any situation where you must be completely alert. Sometimes a cream remedy will be the best option.

Until you’ve found adequate relief, do your best to avoid scratching your hives. They will itch and it will be difficult, but scratching only makes the condition worse and you could damage your skin in the process. Many of the creams designed to treat hives will work well for the itching symptoms in particular.

Hives tend to come and go – some outbreaks last longer than others. However, if your hives allergy appears to be chronic, you may want to have your doctor do an evaluation and determine if there may be something else going on. You may even want to undergo allergy testing to see if you can avoid the problem in the future.

Dog allergies treatments are around for owners who have creatures that suffer from reactions. It is possible for animals to have allergic reactions to items which can be in the house, meals, their very own hair, or perhaps substance goods. It can be difficult to get the origin of such allergic reactions, particularly if the dog is allergic to a number of things.

Some allergic reactions may be related actual symptoms of serious ailments. If the allergic reactions are severe, the over counter remedies may be insufficient or not the correct one to treat the condition and may trigger more health problems. Because of this, you should see professional advice before using any product on your pet.

Specialists have the technology and the skill to find out what is really happening with the pet. Even though the symptoms and signs above are related to allergy suffering, there are possible chances that the animal is not suffering the same condition. The people who have pets that suffer from reactions might notice animal sneezing around harmful chemicals, have rashes on their skin, fur missing, runny eyes and nose, or showing signs of restlessness and fatigue.

The first task in helping the animal lead a proper, normal lifestyle is to notice these types of signs. The creature should be assessed for a thirty day period to see the way it reacts to the surroundings, meals, and even its own hair. Simply because creatures should continue to keep their bodies thoroughly clean, it may be entirely possible that they are ingesting allergens.

Combing the animal once daily and washing it once a month is the best approach to battle allergic reactions. Should the pet be found sensitive to certain foods, the culprit needs to be identified and a diet change may be necessary. If the animal develops flea dermatitis, this condition can be treated with various remedies and preventative measures should be taken to minimize the risk of future recurrences.

A pet care specialist can also help you identify inhalants in your home which could be triggering reactions. Just like humans, canines want to be healthy and comfortable. It’s up to you, the owner, to recognize and respond to problems in your dog.

Never bathe your canine friend more than twice each month, as this could dry out the skin, causing it to become itchy. But after a problem has been recognized, it’s easy to apply proper remedies. Your job is to be vigilant in identifying the problems before they get out of hand.

If you’re looking for where to start, you can begin by making a call to your local pet care specialist. Internet research is a good idea, too. I hope this basic advice gives you and your dog a happier, more comfortable life together.

Dogs are just like humans as they also experience allergic attacks. The only difference is it’s not that easy to diagnose the cause of this problem on dogs. Hence, it might need you to do several things for you to know if they have allergy and its causes. This includes taking note of several behaviors and physician conditions like scratching, licking on a regular basis, ear infections and skin problems. You can bring your pet to a veterinarian but expect that the charge may be too much for your budget. Fortunately, it’s possible for you to treat your dog by doing several dog allergy remedies at home to help you save money. There are several things that can serve as allergen to your pet. Examples of these are plastic, collars, fabrics, and other cleaning products. Apart from external allergens, internal allergens can also cause them to have these symptoms like dong food, crackers, and bones.

Pollen allergens can also cause them to have allergic reactions and even dust mites that have been mixed with the air. Take note of the symptoms and the things that are causing these to your pets. Check also if symptoms are getting worse upon taking in something. If these symptoms continue to occur, then you can bring it to your veterinarian to get the right treatment option.
First of all, they will be subjected to several tests in order to find out the primary causes of this condition. Upon knowing the results, the veterinarian will administer several treatment options to solve the problem. Apart from testing, they will also consider your journal in taking note of the right dog allergy remedies for your pet. You can also take advantage of various natural dog allergy remedies if you want to have a more natural approach on things. The procedure may not be that easy but as long as you’re patient with them, your pet will surely get the right solution for them. Veterinarians may also prescribe various dog allergy remedies, which can be purchased from their pharmacy. Atopica is one known medication or skin allergies. Chlorpheniramine Maleate is a prescribed antihistamine useful for immediate allergic treatment. Hydroxyzine can provide relief on scratched areas because of allergy or hot spots. Hydroxyzine pamoate is a treatment option which needs sedation but helpful for several allergic attacks.
Medrol is an anti-inflammatory medication helpful for dog allergies. Make sure to consult the veterinarian for the best approach and medication, as they know the best one for your canine pet. Natural dog allergy remedies that you can do at home include oatmeal baths. Just like in humans, this type of bath is great for dogs with flaking skin. Dog shampoos include medicated formulation can also provide relief for this dog condition. Apart from suing various products in treating your pet, remember that it’s also a great help if you’ll change their daily diet. An approach you can do is to remove food with gluten as they’re considered to be allergens for dogs with sensitive stomach. Antihistamines you can buy without prescription is also helpful in avoiding allergic reactions. Since you’ll not meet up with your veterinarian during this time, you can ask them on phone about the right medication depending on their size, breed, weight and age. Providing dog allergy remedies can be a daunting task for you but a little patience will assure your pet’s safety.