Cow's milk allergy in infants

Understanding whether an infant has allergy or intolerance is key to diagnosis and management of CMA.

Adverse reactions to foods can be classified depending on whether there is an immune-mediated reaction or not. Immune mediated reactions can be further broken down by whether they are due to IgE allergic antibodies or not.

How common is cow’s milk allergy (CMA)?

• Food allergy is a common condition in young children, affecting up to 10% of all infants in an unselected Australian cohort study.
• It is estimated that around 1-2% of infants have CMA. 
• Most children will outgrow CMA, with around 85% of cases resolved by the age of five.
• CMA is more common in babies with a family history of allergy or eczema.

After completing this course, you will be able to:

• Understand the signs and symptoms of CMA in infants.
• Have an approach to CMA using the medical history, skin or IgE testing and dietary elimination methods in diagnosis.
• Outline the differential diagnoses for CMA.
• Understand the recommended feeding options for infants with CMA in New Zealand.
• Have a systematic management plan in place for infants with CMA and know when to refer to a specialist.
• Effectively counsel parents and provide educational support where required.

Acknowledgements

The content has been developed in 2020 by Dr Jan Sinclair, Paediatric Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

This eLearning is sponsored with an unrestricted grant from Nutricia.