Goat milk is a valuable product that has many beneficial substances for the body, including for children. Its composition is similar to breast milk. This product is able to strengthen the immune system, help to recover quickly after an illness or surgery. But sometimes a child is allergic to goat milk. The causes and treatment of this ailment are described in the article.
Difference from cow's milk
After milk, many children have an allergy. The reason is the receipt of milk protein casein, which is found in both dairy products. True, goat milk is considered less allergenic. But about 2-7% of babies have a reaction to protein, which appears for various reasons. This usually leads to skin symptoms.
It is necessary to distinguish an allergy to milk protein from lactose intolerance, in which the lactase enzyme, which is responsible for the absorption of milk sugar, is not sufficiently produced. With lactase deficiency, there are only disruptions in the activity of the digestive tract.
So can there be an allergy to goat milk? There are several types of protein molecules in cow's and goat's milk that cause allergies. In the product of different animals, the proteins of the same type have individual amino acid components. This suggests that a child who is allergic to cow's milk will not necessarily have the same problem when taking goat's milk. This is an individual reaction, only a doctor can identify a problem.
Is there an allergy to goat milk in children? This problem arises, but on a cow 30% more cases. Due to its unique composition, the product is considered valuable during pregnancy and lactation, during the growth and development of the child. With it, the body is saturated with beneficial substances.
Benefit and harm
Take this drink should be within reasonable limits, which will be useful for strengthening health and immunity. But some people have to give up the product, as they are allergic to goat milk protein.
The product benefits are as follows:
- It is easily digested.
- Increases hemoglobin.
- Rich in vitamins.
- Present cobalt has a positive effect on metabolism, participates in hematopoiesis.
- The product has a lot of phosphorus, fluorine, potassium, copper, magnesium.
- The drink is good for the thyroid gland, heart, blood vessels, and nervous system.
- Increases efficiency, improves memory.
- Goat milk is effective for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, diabetes, tuberculosis, bronchitis.
- This is an excellent tool to increase the acidity of the stomach and restore the intestines after food poisoning.
But you should take into account the negative points. Goat milk has an increased fat content, there is no lipase enzyme that breaks down fats, therefore, children should not use this product only while feeding, as there is an allergy to goat milk in infants. They may also have colic and flatulence.
Many people have individual intolerance to this product. In addition, its biobacteria lead to fermentation, which should not be allowed for intestinal diseases, and is also not recommended for pancreatic ailments.
Allergen
Animal protein in the baby can come from breastfeeding from a mother who has consumed goat milk. If the baby has an allergy, it is important for the nurse to exclude this drink for the period of lactation.
An allergy to goat milk in a child appears when complementary foods are introduced or transferred to artificial feeding. For babies, infant formula should be given carefully. If you are allergic to goat milk protein, it is better to choose a mixture based on the hydrolysis of protein, soy and amino acids. In this case, care must be taken, since soy products also lead to the named reaction.
Reaction types
A true allergy appears when the body gives a reaction when a small amount of the product is consumed. Pseudo-allergy is a condition in which there are enough enzymes in the baby’s body, but he drank so much milk that the body cannot cope with its absorption. In this case, the reaction is not associated with the nature of the product, but with its quantity.
Some parents confuse an allergy to milk protein with milk protein intolerance. Intolerance is associated with the difficulties of digesting dairy products, and the immune system does not participate in this process. Allergy is the response of the immune system to a foreign protein that has entered the body.
Allergy Elimination
Surprisingly, sometimes this product can be a remedy for allergies. After a short course of taking goat milk, it will be easier for people:
- there is an improvement in well-being;
- the digestive system is normalized;
- the number of rashes decreases;
- immunity is strengthened.
But it is individual. Milk can be used as a medicine only for allergies to other products. Doing this is allowed after consultation with an allergist, since self-medication can harm health.
Causes
There are several causes of a baby’s goat milk allergy:
- Heredity. If at least one of the parents has an allergy, then there is a high probability that the child will have the same problem.
- Early feeding of goat milk. It is advisable to do this from 6 months.
- The use by the mother during pregnancy of a large number of products with animal protein.
- The course of pregnancy in ecologically dirty areas, the harmful work of the mother when carrying a baby.
- Stress, infectious ailments or exacerbations of chronic diseases, antibiotic therapy during pregnancy.
Casein can accumulate in the body for a long time. Therefore, an allergy to goat milk in a child does not appear immediately, but when there is a lot of it. Whatever the causes of an allergic reaction, timely diagnosis and therapy are necessary. Then you can avoid complications.
Security
In some cases, breast milk is not enough for the full development and excellent well-being of the baby. In these situations, you need to introduce additional feeding. Not all cow's milk formulations prescribed by pediatricians are well tolerated. Then goat milk products are used. But first you need to consult a doctor.
Up to 9 months, the product is given only in diluted form with water, in gruel. For the first trial, 50 ml is enough. Then you should monitor the child, his behavior and stool. Symptoms of an allergy to goat milk in infants can manifest in the form of rashes, itching, and diarrhea. In this case, you need to complete the introduction of complementary foods.
The next time you should try it in a month. If everything repeats, it is better not to give the product for a while. In the absence of negative manifestations, it is gradually allowed to increase the dose and bring it to 700 ml per day for up to 2 years.
Symptoms
Symptoms in children and adults with allergies to goat milk are different. It all depends on the state of immunity and physiological characteristics. Here's how an allergy to goat milk appears in adults:
- skin redness;
- the appearance of urticaria;
- sensation of itching;
- skin rash and dryness;
- difficulty breathing
- swelling and inflammation of the eyelids;
- joint pain
- feeling of weakness and fatigue;
- depression;
- headache;
- heartburn;
- flatulence;
- digestion disorder.
To get rid of unpleasant symptoms, stopping the use of goat milk is required. If necessary, take a medicine to eliminate the symptoms.
In babies, this problem manifests itself more painfully. What are the symptoms of a baby’s goat milk allergy? This problem is manifested:
- in the form of severe rashes on the skin with itching;
- frequent spitting up;
- diarrhea with colic;
- wheezing;
- nasal congestion and tearing;
- restless sleep;
- constant crying.
As you can see from the photo, an allergy to goat milk in a child has not very pleasant signs. In addition, the baby's health is deteriorating. Therefore, it is important to immediately seek the help of a specialist.
Complications
An allergy can manifest itself in the form of severe signs, if you do not get rid of the problem in a timely manner. Quincke edema and anaphylactic shock occur. The tongue, lips, face, and airways may swell, and this leads to suffocation.
Anaphylaxis involves laryngeal edema, laryngo- and bronchospasm, which makes breathing more difficult, pressure drops sharply and the patient loses consciousness. In these cases, the patient requires first aid. Sometimes hospitalization is needed.
If an allergy is not treated, it can gradually become a big problem for an adult. Often for this reason, some people develop chronic rhinitis or bronchial asthma. Such a person will be hypersensitive to other allergens. Therefore, it is necessary with the occurrence of the first symptoms to determine their cause. This may relate to lactose intolerance, immune response or dysbiosis. Depending on the cause, effective therapy is prescribed.
Diagnostics
When the first symptoms of an allergy to porridge in goat's milk or to the drink itself appear, it is necessary to show the child to a pediatrician. A specialist based on an anamnesis and examination eliminates ailments with similar symptoms. You will probably need to visit an allergist. The doctor will reveal what led to the allergy.
When breastfeeding, you need to keep a nursing mother’s food diary, which records all the foods consumed and the baby’s reaction to them. In the presence of complementary foods, a diary is also kept for the child. This will determine the allergen and exclude it from the diet.
In addition to donating blood from a vein to immunoglobulins E, after the baby is 3 years old, skin tests will be performed. This test involves applying allergens to a slightly damaged skin. An allergen is identified in the area where the skin is red or swollen. Only after the diagnosis is completed, the doctor can prescribe therapy.
Treatment
Therapy involves a hypoallergenic diet. This means that you must abandon the allergenic product. Symptomatic pharmacotherapy is performed if the provocateur of the reaction has already entered the body. Then the following measures are required:
- Reception of enterosorbents - “Smects”, “Polysorb”, which in a short time remove allergens.
- Reception of antihistamines - Tsetrina, Loratadina.
- Application of ointment, gel or cream from allergies to painful places: “Levomekol”, “Actovegin”, “Fluorocorta”.
But you cannot prescribe medications yourself. Only a doctor should do this. Even before taking any remedy, you need to read the instructions. In severe cases, an ambulance call is required.
Milk purchase
Product quality is determined by the place of purchase. Purchasing a drink of dubious origin is always a risk. It is essential that milk contains no bacteria or hazardous components. Products must pass control. Therefore, a quality, safe and natural product can be bought:
- in stores with environmentally friendly products that have been certified;
- stores that work with livestock farms.
You need to ask for a certificate and other documents that confirm the legal origin of milk. After all, it affects health.
When choosing goat milk you need:
- check documentation confirming infection control;
- take into account taste, color, smell;
- identify animal welfare conditions.
Only a quality product can be useful.
Nursing mothers
After childbirth and during feeding, women require an additional source of vitamins and minerals. In this case, we need artificially created complexes and natural products - honey, nuts, whole milk. But there is an allergy in nursing mothers to natural products.
Goat milk has vitamins A, C, B, D, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, iron, calcium. It is thanks to them that the nursing mother is restored. Lactation does not depend on the use of this product, but women need to control the well-being of the child and gradually introduce it into the diet.
Opponents of the use of goat milk in nursing and pregnant women believe that it is not worth taking, because it has an unpleasant odor and a specific taste. But it only depends on the care of the animal and the personal preferences of the woman.
An allergy to cow's milk appears more often. Therefore, if you need to choose between 2 products, then you should choose a goat. If the drink is well tolerated, then do not remove it from the diet. It can be consumed in boiled form, cook porridge and other dishes from it.
Prevention and prognosis
To avoid unpleasant manifestations, the use of raw milk should be excluded. With heat treatment denaturation is performed - the destruction of casein. This means that this milk is allowed to be consumed, but it should be boiled for at least 20 minutes. And the foam should be removed, because it has proteins.
No need to remove foods that contain goat milk from the diet. For example, fermented milk products neutralize allergenic protein during fermentation.
Allergy is a passing phenomenon: if it proceeds easily in infancy, then from 3 years it can even go away. But with a severe form of the problem, it is better to exclude goat milk completely.