Gaithersburg, MD – February 8, 2006 – Rashes, colds and upset stomachs are common baby ailments. But the occurrence of one or more of these symptoms can also signal a serious allergy that, unrecognized, can make an infant miserable and malnourished.
More than 100,000 babies suffer from milk allergy each year. These infants cannot digest the complex protein chains found in dairy and soy-based infant formulas. That means that their sole source of food (milk) can cause a litany of gastrointestinal, respiratory and/or dermatological problems. Because these symptoms often look like common baby ailments, the allergy can be difficult for healthcare professionals to diagnose and treat.
Infant milk allergy is treated by either eliminating the proteins from the nursing mother’s diet or by replacing dairy and soy-based formulas with an amino acid-based formula. This type of formula uses non-allergenic amino acids, the building blocks of protein, instead of partial or complete protein chains. It does not require a prescription, however infants taking the formula should be under the care of a healthcare professional.
Here is a list of symptoms from Dr. John Moissidis, a Board certified pediatric allergist at The Asthma Allergy Clinic in Shreveport, La., to help health care providers identify milk allergy in their patients.
Infant Milk Allergy Symptoms
- Persistent diarrhea (an average of two to four times a day for more than five to seven days)
- Bloody stool
- Vomiting (in excess of typical mealtime spit-up)
- Reflux symptoms (excessive spit-up and difficulty swallowing)
- Skin rash
- Extreme fussiness
- Low or no weight gain (this is often a result of malnourishment due to so much vomiting and diarrhea)
- Gassiness
- Wheezing
- Struggling to breathe
- Excess mucus n the nose and throat
- Failure to thrive (dehydration, loss of appetite and lack of energy due to lack of proper nutrition)
Many babies outgrow this allergy. However, others face a lifelong struggle against milk protein allergies that may manifest into debilitating diseases like eosinophilic esophagitis or gastrointestinal reflux disease.
Neocate Infant, the first and only amino acid-based formula specifically designed for infants, provides proper nutrition and symptom relief for babies who suffer from milk allergy. Neocate, manufactured by Nutricia North America, provides relief of gastrointestinal symptoms in three days and relief of all symptoms including skin rash in 14 days for a vast majority of milk allergy sufferers, according to clinical studies.
Parents can order Neocate Infant directly from Nutricia North America at
www.neocate.com or 1-800-Neocate or from their local pharmacy. Parents interested in more information about milk allergy can visit
www.testforallergy.com.
About Nutricia North America
Nutricia North America, based in Gaithersburg, Md., is a division of Nutricia International. A leader in clinical nutrition, Nutricia provides medical foods and infant formulas for the treatment of allergic, gastrointestinal, metabolic, neurological and genetic disorders. The range of quality products includes Neocate, the first hypoallergenic amino acid-based formula for infants and children who suffer from milk/soy protein allergy and gastrointestinal conditions like eosinophilic esophagitis.
Provided by Dr. John Moissidis, a Board certified pediatric allergist at The Asthma Allergy Clinic in Shreveport, La.,
Date of publication: 05/03/2006 11.42.38
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