Cow’s Milk Allerg (NAPS)—Cow’s milk allergy (CMA) is a severe food allergy that typically affects infants and toddlers. Symptoms can include eer constant crying, throwing up, refusal to eat, and severe rashes, and results in a sick, undernourished baby and anxious, discouraged parents. “Sometimes, when babies are diagnosed with colic or reflux, parents’ instincts often tell them that something else is wrong,” says Steven Yannicelli, Ph.D., R.D., vice president of medical and scientific affairs for Nutricia North America. “Parents of children with cow’s milk allergy often complain that it required monthsof persistence and education to finally get their child correctly diagnosed and treated. This is why it’s so important to know the symptomsof a cow’s milk allergy.” Common symptomsinclude: Diarrhea two to four times a day for more than five to seven days and/or blood in thestool; * Vomiting beyond typical mealtime spit-up, especially if the baby also has difficulty swallowing; eSkin rash and/or eczema, especially if it occurs along with the other symptoms; *Inconsolable crying for long periods of time every day. Babies with CMA cannot be comforted because of pain in the gastrointestinal tract; Lack of proper weight gain. Most infants double their weight by six months andtriple it by 12 months, but many with CMAlose nutrition through diarrhea and vomiting; *Gassiness, when it occurs with the other symptoms; Respiratory problems such as wheezing, struggling to breathe, and excess mucus in the nose and throat; and = An answerto a sick, undernourished baby and anxious, discouraged parents may be to use a hypoallergenic formula in the infant’s diet. *Failure to thrive, due to de- hydration, loss of appetite, and lack of energy that comes from a lack of proper nutrition. If you suspect your child has CMA, talk to your child’s doctor. For mothers who breast-feed their infant, it may mean changing their diet so the baby is no longer exposed to problem foods. If you’re formula-feeding your child, you'll need to switch to one that doesn’t contain any cow’s milk proteins. Many infants whoare allergic to milk also react to goat’s milk and soy milk formulas. According to the American Academyof Pedi- atrics, children under 6 months of age should not drink soy milk formulas. A hypoallergenic, elemental formula, such as Neocate, which contains aminoacids that are nonallergenic building blocks for all protein, can give your infant the nutrition he or she needs to grow and thrive andlimits the chance of an allergic reaction. For more information and to check out the Neocate Parent’s Toolbox, with a symptom checker and an online diary, visit www. neocate.com.
