Dairy allergies are not fun to deal with. Those with this allergy can testify to the pain and general inconvenience dairy allergies cause. Symptoms to dairy allergies range from moderate to severe with some of the more common symptoms being diarrhea, vomiting and a skin rash. People with asthma might begin wheezing after having a dairy product, which is classified as products containing milk.

What are Dairy Allergies?

Dairy allergies occur when your body has an adverse reaction to a protein found in these products. It is actually one of the most common food allergies. Babies who suffer from dairy allergies many times out grow the allergy once they reach three years of age. However, parents still need to be careful and keep a constant vigil over their children and their reaction to foods.

Treatment of Dairy Allergies

Unfortunately, for dairy allergy sufferers the only way to avoid dairy allergies is by avoiding the products. There are no special pills to make the body less reactive. People should avoid milk, butter, cheese and all types of cream. Read the nutritional label and check for anything that could be harmful. There are other ingredients that states a product uses dairy milk: whey, casein, lactic acid and sodium lactate. If one does ingest a dairy product, there are ways to combat the allergic reaction. Sometimes an Epinephrine pen is used if the allergy is severe and needs immediate attention. Otherwise an antihistamine, more commonly known as Benedryl, could be prescribed to subside the allergic reaction.

Alternatives to Milk

There are many replacements made readily available for people suffering from dairy allergies. You can find rice milk, soy milk, almond milk and other variations in the supermarket. However, these types of milk are not suitable for a child’s nutrition. Get a doctor’s recommendation on where to get calcium and other nutrients you are missing out on from dairy products. Children need extra attention to get the proper nutrition. Look for juice drinks with added calcium and other products that could help.

Difference Between Allergies and Lactose Intolerance

Dairy allergies shouldn’t be confused with being lactose intolerant. These are two different problems. If someone suffers from dairy allergies, the body is having an adverse chemical reaction to the protein found in milk products. In a lactose intolerant person, the body cannot process the sugar found in milk because of the absence of lactase in a person’s body. This is a non-allergy reaction. People who are lactose intolerant will also have different symptoms that are mostly intestinal related: flatulence, stomach cramps, bloating and diarrhea.