8 Quick questions?
These are eight signs from Dr. John Moissidis, a Board certified pediatric allergist at The Asthma Allergy Clinic in Shreveport, La., Designed to help parents of infants identify a potential milk allergy.
Also note that if a baby exhibits persistent colic episodes associated with vomiting and diarrhea that last beyond the time period of a common stomach virus (more than five to seven days), parents should consult their physician as soon as possible.
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Does your baby have persistent diarrhea?
Diarrhea is common in babies, but if it is persistent (an average of two to four times a day for more than five to seven days) and/or if there is blood in the stool, it could signal a more serious milk allergy. |
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Does your baby vomit frequently?
Babies often spit up bits of food, but vomiting beyond the typical mealtime regurgitation should be examined by a doctor. Reflux symptoms, such as spit-up and difficulty swallowing, can also be milk allergy symptoms. |
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Does your baby suffer from skin rash?
There are many causes for infant skin rashes like eczema. Milk allergy is one possible cause, especially if the rash occurs along with some of these other symptoms. |
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Does he/she suffer from extreme fussiness?
Every baby cries, but crying continuously and inconsolably for long periods of time is abnormal. When there is no apparent reason, this is usually called colic. Sometimes this extreme fussiness is actually caused by the gastrointestinal pain resulting from an allergy to milk proteins. |
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Has your baby experienced a low or no weight gain?
Most infants double their weight by six months and triple it by 12 months. Another sign of good weight gain is when babies follow the standard developmental growth charts at their doctor's health maintenance visits. But when babies are not getting the nutrition they need because of excessive diarrhoea and vomiting, they are unable to grow like they should. |
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Does he/she suffer from gassiness?
All babies have gas, but when it occurs along with several of these other symptoms, it can also signal an allergy to milk proteins. |
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Does your baby have any respiratory problems?
Colds are common for infants, but wheezing, struggling to breathe and developing excess mucus in the nose and throat is not. For some kids, these respiratory problems can be the baby's reaction to milk proteins. |
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Does he/she suffer from failure to thrive?
Babies with milk allergy often suffer from a lack of proper nutrition characterized by dehydration, loss of appetite and lack of energy. This overall failure to thrive is often the result of the other symptoms' effect on the infant's body. |
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