milk allergies

[lisa peters]

I have a 14 month daughter who drinks whole milk. I have notice a change in her behavior. She often has tantroms and hits her head. It really concerns me. My husband when he was a child he to had a change in behavior after drinking milk. My mother in law saw a talk show about children who had a change in behavior after drinking milk. Could this be why my daughter is displaying this sort of behavior. If it is, what test can be done to prove that she has a chemical reaction to milk. What kind of other reactions  happen when having a chemical reaction to milk. If someone could give me some kind of answer I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you.

[Lisa Tanner]

My 8yr. old can't seem to focus on schoolwork etc. My doctor thinks it may be linked to his milk allergy, not by making him hyper but making him "foggy". Has anyone had this experience with milk allergies?

[Teresita Heydrich]

I am a newspaper reporter who is currently writing an article on the pros and cons of milk. I will like to have somo information about the options for kids who are allergic to milk and at what age is the kid supposed to start his milk-free diet without hazards to his health. Thank you

[Gwen]

I have a four year old with the same behaviour.  Ever since he was a baby there has been intolerance to milk products.  We were told by the doctor that we could reintroduce them at two years old.  He began to have night terrors and tantrums.  We worked milk out of his diet again.  It was again recommended that we put small amounts in his diet at 31/2.  Just recently he has had alot of yogurt (3 small ones a day).  All of a suuden I had a little boy I could not contol (day or night!)  We tried everything, however, it recently dawnd on me about the increase in milk.  Four days ago, I ttok milk out of his diet completely.  He's sleeping and not screaming tantrums for the first time in 4 months.  He is off milk for good,

[Rosalind Grant]

My daughter has Exzma she has had it since she was a new born baby.  I can't understand what caused it but I do remember that in my last month of pregnancy I developed a ichy rash that flared up often and it bothered me.  But as I got close to delivery it went away.

I didn't eat meat but I did eat alot of cereal like crazy I wanted that cold sweet milk every day could that be the reason she ended up with exzma?  Someone pleasa help.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Dear Ms. Peters,

You can do some ruling out of possibilities yourself. If you withdraw milk from her diet, does the behavior cease. In other words, are you comfortable that there is an association between ingestion of milk and her behavior? If so, it would make sense to consult with an allergist. Your pediatrician should be able to refer you.

[Nicolecary]

My son has displayed much of the same kind of behavior and I am in the process of trying to determain the same thing. His doctors have had him on and off milk much of his life because of all sorts of reactions. I assume give him Rice milk which consists mostly of water but is also enriched with calcium, its better for them anyway. Try it and see if it makes a difference.

[Mary]

Lisa, First get a copy of Dr. Doris Rapp's book "Is This Your Child?".  Read it.  Her thought is that many foods and chemicals can cause behavioral changes in children.  My son (now 9) was breastfed until he was 12 months. Then he turned to whole, cow's milk. The next three years were hell. When I found this book in our local library it was a God-send.While he exhibited several physical symptoms i.e. very loose stools, excessive saliva, red ears, it was his behavior that had us at wits end.  He woke up screaming and screamed all day.  He had tantrums, agressive behavior and head banging. He also craved all forms of milk, in fact, was drinking 3 gallons of milk a week (he was only 4).  Most of all he was miserable.  When we told him that we thought he might be allergic to milk and we were stopping milk in his diet, he said "Will it make me happy?" Now we use only soy-milk (a good one is Better Than Milk) for everything and I read the labels on all packages.  He is a much happier child and we can always tell when he has had milk products in his food.  A lot of the research I have done on my own, but I have a supportive pediatrician who shook my hand when I told him about the milk allergy and said "I could have never figured this out for you".  Good luck

[S. Doran]

I have a son who just turned 3. He has had exzma since he was about 18 months old.  It seemed to start around the time he was weaned and it seems to be getting worse.  From about 18 months to 30 months or so, he loved milk and hot chocolate- drinking 8-10 cups/day.  Now he says he hates milk and won't drink it.  I give him Calcium fortified orange juice, and he loves yogurt and cheese.  Recently a friend suggested a milk allergy may be causing his exzma.  I don't know a whole lot about milk allergies or exzma and would appreciate any help/ideas. The backs of his legs are just one big red "itch".  We go see the doctor on Monday but I'm wondering if I'd be wiser to go to a homeopath or a nutritionist or an allergist.

[ghostly ghost]

please go to www.parentsoup.com  there you will find a list of boards that can help you a whole lot. Even a ask the peds. boards.

[Christine]

My son has peanut and egg allergies and I am very active in some "online" allergy support groups.  My son has never exhibited the kind of behavior that you have described when he eats either of these foods; however, many parents have stated that when their very young children (toddler age) ingest a food they are allergic to they often hit at their heads and are very cranky for days after the ingestion.  It seems that when a child is too young to express themselves they often exhibit these behaviors when they are having a reaction.  Most food allergy reactions will involve an intense itching sensation in the mouth, ears, and scalp.  It is for this reason that children will hit their heads.  Rather than pull milk from your daughter's diet unneccessarily, it would be better to contact an allergist and have her tested.  Allergy testing is extremely quick and easy and you get the results immediately.  It is also good to have it documented if there is truly an allergy.  Better to do this than possibly eliminate an important food in her diet.
By the way, I'm not a doctor, just a parent who is very experienced with food allergies.
Christine