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Cow Milk Allergy (CMA), often developing within the first year of life, causes discomfort in some infants and children due to the body’s response to one or more proteins found in cow milk. Learn more about the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and management.
Cow Milk Allergy (CMA) often develops within the first year of life. It occurs when the body does not tolerate one or more proteins found in cow milk. These proteins may be ingested through infant formula, or through breast milk (depending on the mother’s diet) or through food containing cow milk (in older infants).
Common symptoms can include diarrhea, constipation, colic, food refusal, poor growth, eczema, and wheezing. CMA can be upsetting for babies and their families as the allergy signs and symptoms are often nonspecific and may vary which may make it harder to diagnose. If you suspect your child may have CMA after using our symptom checker or if you have any concerns regarding the health of your child, please consult with your child’s healthcare professional.
Food allergies affect approximately 500,000 children across Canada. Cow Milk Allergy (CMA) is the most common food allergy in infancy and early childhood.
Trying to differentiate a milk allergy from a milk intolerance can be confusing because they share several similar symptoms. This can result in a missed diagnosis and inadequate management, and ultimately lead to more discomfort and distress.
An immune response to one or multiple proteins found in cow milk. The proteins trigger the body’s immune system, giving way to an allergic reaction.
A milk intolerance does not involve the immune system. It is the body’s inability to properly digest lactose, a sugar naturally found in all mammalian milk. This is due to a deficiency or absence of lactase, an enzyme in the gut that helps digest lactose.
CMA happens when the immune system mistakenly reacts to the protein in cow milk. The exact cause remains unclear.
CMA symptoms may vary from one individual to another. They can include gastrointestinal, respiratory, skin-related symptoms and anaphylaxis.
As of today, there is no cure for cow milk allergy. Like most food allergies, the recommended management for CMA is to remove any dairy proteins from the diet.
For babies that are breastfeeding, the first option is for mom to talk to the doctor about the need to do a maternal elimination diet. This is where dairy is removed from her diet, always under guidance from a doctor or dietitian. Supplementing her diet may be required to ensure adequate intake of nutrients (notably, calcium) found in dairy foods. For the baby, a hypoallergenic formula is recommended if there’s a need to supplement or replace breast milk.
Through and into childhood, if a cow milk allergy has not been outgrown by the age of one, a hypoallergenic formula such as Neocate may be recommended to help provide key nutrients that the child would normally get from cow milk. If mom continues to breastfeed, she needs to continue on a dairy-free diet as directed by her doctor.
Neocate® is a family of hypoallergenic, amino acid-based specialized formulas for use under medical supervision and is indicated for cow milk allergy, multiple food allergies and related GI and allergic conditions. Talk to your healthcare provider about product recommendations.
Neocate Nutra is suitable for use in children and infants older than 6 months of age (not suitable as sole source of nutrition). Neocate Nutra is not intended for bottle or tube feeding.
Discover if Neocate®️ is reimbursed in your province.
Ryder experienced reflux symptoms soon after he was born. At 5 weeks old he developed a fever, which brought him to the hospital. After 4 long exhausting days in the hospital, Neocate® was started by the pediatric gastroenterologist. After two weeks I was so thankful for sticking with the Neocate®. In this photo, he was about to turn one and he was a happy Neocate® baby!**
*A patient’s story from the US
*Ryder’s Mom is an employee at Nutricia North America
**Individual results may vary.
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