What Proteins Cause Cow ’ s Milk Protein Allergy?

Discussion Cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA) is one of the most common food allergies. It is estimated to have an incidence of 2-7.5% in infants and a prevalence of 0.5% in breastfeed infants. The prevalence decreases with age at 1% in children > or = 6 years. CMPA does not have a laboratory test and therefore is a clinical diagnosis. It is defined as a “hypersensitivity reaction brought on by specific immunologic mechanisms to cow’s milk.” Generally symptoms present within the first month of life and involve 2 of more systems with 2 or more symptoms. Systems are dermatologic (including atopic dermatitis, urticaria, oral pruritis), respiratory (including asthma, stridor, wheezing, rhinoconjunctivitis) and gastrointestinal (including emesis, diarrhea, constipation, malabsorption, gastroestophageal reflux disease) and other symptoms may include colic, irritability, failure to thrive or food aversion. IgE-mediated CMPA (Type 1 hypersensitivity reaction, ~50% of children) has symptoms that occur within minutes to 2 hours of ingestion of the CMP. Non-IgE mediated CMPA (Type 4 delayed hypersensitivity reaction) has symptoms that occur 4 or more hours (even up to 1 week) after exposure to CMP. Allergic colitis can have blood mixed into stools that are usually non-foul smelling, mucousy or foamy. Blood can be hematochezia or melanotic or insidious. The mechanism for rectal bleeding is felt to be ulceration of thinned mucosa that is stretched over enlarged ...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news