Infantreflux.org | Milk Allergy vs Intolerance

This topic has 10 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 20 years, 6 months ago by Anonymous.

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April 4, 2006 at 8:08 am #5333

Anonymous
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What is the difference between milk allergy and milk protein intolerance in a 5 mo old? My doctor made a point of saying that the ped GI’s report said “milk allergy.” I was too busy trying to keep my toddler under control to ask the question. Just curious…

April 4, 2006 at 9:13 am #5346

Anonymous
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Good question! I am not too sure myself as when Isaac was younger they said it was an intolerance and now they say it is an allergy. Hopefully someone can answer this!

April 4, 2006 at 1:41 pm #5377

Anonymous
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My understanding is that a milk protein intolerance means that your baby cannot digest the milk proteins very well. This is a digestive problem which causes tummy aches and gas.

A milk allergy means they are allergic to milk and will get a rash like excema, or nasal congestion when they drink milk.

Some babies have an intolerance to the lactose in milk. This also affects digestion, giving them tummy aches, but no rash or stuffy nose. Lactose intolerance is actually pretty rare in babies since breast milk also contains lactose.

Does your baby get rashes? Stuffy noses? Or, tummy aches?

Either way, looks like you will have to avoid milk for a while. I think most babies outgrow intolerances and allergies to milk in time.

ndrose2006-4-4 13:42:35

April 4, 2006 at 5:41 pm #5402

Anonymous
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That makes sense. He always had a stuffy nose and eczema until put on Nutramigen and then again until Neocate. Thanks for the info.

April 7, 2006 at 10:56 am #5617

Anonymous
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I had a question about the rashes. Can babies get the rash on and off? Not keep it all the time and still have an intolerance? My baby is on soy formula and I’ve read that soy intolerances are also pretty common.

(Sorry if there are misspelled words!)

My 4 1/2 month old has had rashes on her face a few times. She also gets a red rash behind her ears. Nothing severe. When she was 2 months old we did take her to the doctor for a place on her face that actually looked like ringworm. I was upset that “my baby” had ringworm , even though I know that anyone can get it. I was convinced that someone had touched her face and passed it to her. No pets (except fish). I had checked my sons from head to toe. Nothing on them. Ever since she was born I constantly have had them washing their hands before they touch her, etc…. We treated the area and eventually it went away. A couple of weeks later she had a very similar looking place on the other side of her face, and eventually it went away. Both times the area was dry and scaly looking (kind of like eczema) Her checks often have a “rashy” look, but not all the time. Her bottom also has the “red ring” that I’ve read about in the forum, but its not severe and sometimes goes away. One doctor told me that it was just from the skin contacting skin. I almost always put diaper cream on it to try to keep it from being irritated. But when its there, its there- cream or not.

All of these things could just be “normal” baby things, especially since they come and go sometimes. Our doctors (I believe) usually just look for severe reactions. I’m just trying to figure out something that might help my little one. Her spitting (sometimes “throwing”) up seems to be getting worse not better.

We did try Nutramigen for a short time, but she started throwing that up more than the Prosobee. At that time it did seem to help with the stomach problems- gas, etc…. We probably should have tried it longer, because after that she spit and threw up everything more anyway.

Thanks,

Susan

Lucas 10yrs old (refluxer)- no medication -(not very informed) didn’t sleep until about 9 months old

Jacob 8 yrs old (refluxer) (33 1/2 weeker) reglan

Ellie (11-18-05) (refluxer) Zantac, Prosobee

April 7, 2006 at 12:16 pm #5619

Anonymous
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That sounds exactly like my son Grayson… underlying symptoms that arent always there(especially when at the dr) but enough for me to think there was still a problem. He was put on Allimentum at about 1 month and he was better but…not totally better.After visit upon visit and reading many post here I finally TOLD the dr that he was MSPI and I wanted him on Neocate. We have been on it for a little over a month and he is a different baby.We still have some problems in other areas but all in all it has been like a miracle. DO NOT let them put you off… demand they try something else.

April 7, 2006 at 1:47 pm #5627

Anonymous
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My son gets a spot of eczema on his arm that looks just like ringworm too. It goes away with a little hydrocortisone. My daughter’s eczema on her face looked like little ringworm spots. She had eczema without any food allergies though. It is pretty common in young babies, but it could also mean MSPI.

With both my kids I ignored my instincts and let the doctors talk me out of what I thought was going on. And in both cases I was right and my children suffered longer than they should have! So go with your instincts even if your doctor doesn’t believe you. You could always buy some Neocate on ebay and try it for 10 days. It is obviously nutritionally complete and can do no harm to your child. Neocate ended all the blood/mucous in his poop, explosive gas, rashes, congestion, etc. If nothing really changes, you’ll know that it’s not MSPI. I will tell you that the spitting has not improved, and won’t necessarily in your case. That just takes time unfortunately.

Another formula that I’ve heard a lot of moms rave about is GentleEase. This would not help if it’s MSPI though.

April 7, 2006 at 2:29 pm #5637

Anonymous
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Susan L, If the rash is excema it will respond well to a tiny bit of Hydrocortisone Ointment (not cream). All my children had these little patches on their faces for the first few months and my doc suggested this ointment. It always helps, but you only use a very thin layer, twice a day. Ask your doc to be sure…I shoudn’t be giving medical advice here, but I wanted to tell you what works for my three.

My kids all have that red, rashy look to their cheeks from time to time, too. I’m not sure if it’s related to excema, but I treat it by using a little BAG BALM (or you can use vaseline). It’s greasy, but it really helps.

With all of my children, the dry patchy excema rashes stopped by about 5 months.

One thing I’ve learned about Excema is that doctors are not great at diagnosing it. It come and goes, and it can look different on each child. I’ve been told all kinds of weird things about my kids’ rashes by different docs I’ve taken them to when mine was not available. My doctor is the only one who correctly diagnosed it and told me about Hydrocortisone Ointment.

Make sure you are using a free and clear type laundry soap, no softner, and no bleach. Also, use Dove Unscented Bar soap, not baby soaps. They are too harsh for kids with excema.

Hope some of this helps

April 7, 2006 at 6:03 pm #5668

hellbennt
Keymaster

from my welcome intro ( https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=853&am p;PN=1&TPN=1),

there’s a link to info about mspi ( https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2697&a mp;PN=1&TPN=1)

the info there will definitely help you sort this out…

from there, there’s this: web site that gives the best explanation of food allergies/intolerance and its relation to reflux that I have found to date. http://www.disa.com.au/ go on the left to the menu & click on “Food Intolerant Allergic Baby”

April 7, 2006 at 10:49 pm #5692

Anonymous
Inactive

Thanks for all of the advice. I believe my two sons suffered as babies. My youngest son had very explosive bowel movements and blood/mucous in his stools. Of course the docs never saw it- I did. I’m beginning to wonder if there is some sort of allergy/intolerance that all three of them have/had, especially since they all three have had “more than the normal” spitting, etc….

Would (or will) she get eczema on other parts of her body? If it is eczema???

Thanks,

Susan

April 7, 2006 at 11:28 pm #5693

Anonymous
Inactive

She may or may not get it other areas. My daughter had it the most on her face and her thumb that she sucked. But during the winter she would also get it all over her body. The dermatologist said to use Cetaphil liquid soap to bathe her with (very mild) and Cetaphil body cream on her body. For her face, Aquaphor. When her eczema spots would come up we would use the 1% hydrocortisone ointment (the cream can burn) and then Aquaphor on top of that 3x a day for 3-5 days and the spots would go away. She outgrew it around 2 yrs (which is the norm). My son gets it on his face, elbows, and thumbs. His is mostly food allergy related and disappears soon after the food has left his system. Everything I mentioned is over the counter. You could start with the Aquaphor on her problem areas and see how it goes. My ped told me the problem areas should always be nice and greasy! Hope this helps.
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