Did you know that milk allergy and lactose intolerance are two different conditions? Both do have similar symptoms and signs, so it's not surprising that many parents often assume the two conditions are the same.
To support growth and development, babies need adequate nutritional intake. These nutrients can be met from a variety of foods and beverages. One of them is milk, both breast milk and formula milk.
However, not all babies can consume formula milk because there are some babies who have a milk allergy or lactose intolerance. If you experience it, the baby will experience certain symptoms after consuming milk.
Understanding the Difference Between Milk Allergy and Lactose Intolerance in Babies
Mother, as previously mentioned that cow's milk allergy and lactose intolerance are two different conditions. However, because it has similar symptoms, parents often misinterpret it. Therefore, you need to know the difference between a milk allergy and lactose intolerance so that treatment and prevention steps can be taken.
The following are some of the differences between a milk allergy and lactose intolerance that you need to know:
Milk Allergy
A milk allergy is an abnormal reaction of the immune system to milk or products containing milk. Every time a baby consumes milk, especially cow's milk, his body will assume that the protein content in milk is harmful to the body. Mothers can check if your little one has a milk allergy by allergy symptom checker.
Allergic reactions can appear shortly or several hours after the baby consumes milk. Signs and symptoms of milk allergy in babies can vary, ranging from mild to severe.
There are several symptoms and signs of a milk allergy that you need to be aware of, including:
- Throw up
- Breath sounds
- Itchy rash or bumps appear on the skin
- Swelling of the lips and around the eyes
- Cough
- Have a cold
In severe cases of milk allergy, the symptoms that appear can be accompanied by other more serious symptoms, such as diarrhea, shortness of breath,
Lactose Intolerance
In contrast to a milk allergy, lactose intolerance in infants is the inability of the baby's digestive system to digest lactose, a type of natural sugar found in milk.
Lactose intolerance in infants generally occurs because the digestive system has not been able to produce enough lactase enzymes to digest lactose. This condition can cause symptoms in the form of a distended stomach due to bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Unlike a milk allergy, which symptoms can occur throughout the baby's body, lactose intolerance only causes symptoms in the digestive tract.
Handling Cow's Milk Allergy
Given that milk is a good source of nutrition for baby's growth and development, there are several steps you can take to overcome allergy problems without having to keep your little one from the benefits of milk.
One way is to choose formula milk that contains and is specially processed for babies with milk allergies. An example of this type of milk is EHF milk (extensively hydrolyzed formula) and AAF (amino acid-based formula).
EHF milk is a formula that still contains some cow's milk protein, but the protein has been broken down so it is safer for babies who have cow's milk allergies. Meanwhile, AAF milk is a formula with a special amino acid content which is different in chemical structure from the amino acids from cow's milk, so it is safe for babies who are allergic to cow's milk.
Several studies have stated that the protein content that has been specially processed in EHF and AAF milk types has a lower risk of causing allergic reactions. Thus, this type of formula is safe for consumption by babies who have a cow's milk allergy.
Milk containing EHF and AAF is also known to be good for consumption by babies who suffer from lactose intolerance. Both of these contents are considered capable of helping the baby's digestive system to absorb and digest the nutrients that enter his body.
In certain cases, milk allergy can cause serious complications, namely anaphylaxis. This condition is very dangerous and needs to be treated by a doctor immediately. Therefore, immediately take your child to the doctor if he shows symptoms of anaphylaxis, such as swelling of the eyelids and lips, shortness of breath, or fainting, after consuming milk.
