Parents Must Recognize the Impact of Cow Milk Allergy on Children
Children often suffer from cow's milk allergies. According to the Indonesian Pediatric Association (IDAI), about 5 to 7.5% of children who drink cow's milk have allergy symptoms. If not treated as soon as possible, the growth and development of the child allergic to cow's milk may be disrupted. Do you understand what the symptoms are and what could be the consequences if your child is allergic to cow's milk? See through the following review, let's go!
What are the signs and symptoms when your child is allergic to cow's milk?
A child may suffer from cow's milk allergy because his body thinks that the protein in cow's milk is a dangerous substance. As a result, instead of digesting it, some children have some symptoms because they are allergic to the proteins in cow's milk.
If your child is one of those who are allergic to cow's milk, you may be able to detect various signs and symptoms typical of allergies. From the onset of symptoms on the skin, such as the appearance of an itchy red rash, as well as disorders of the digestive tract, such as vomiting and diarrhea.
Some children also have respiratory problems, including sneezing and shortness of breath.
What are the consequences if your child is allergic to cow's milk?
Allergies due to immune reactions to cow's milk proteins are not trivial problems to be taken lightly. Most children who are allergic to cow's milk usually do not even receive milk to meet their nutritional needs.
This condition certainly makes the nutritional intake that should be obtained by the toddler becomes less optimal to support its growth and development. The low risk of lack of intake of macro and micronutrients such as energy, calcium, vitamin D and essential amino acids.
Do not exclude the possibility, the lack of nutrient intake can inhibit the growth of the child. Finally, it will affect the development of height and weight.
Citing a statement from Allergy and Clinical Immunology published in June 2013, there were developmental differences in children with allergies and those who did not.
According to the study, the growth of children with certain food allergies seems normal. However, after being assessed using the z-score value of the age- and age-based weight-based body weight graph, it appears that the nutritional status of Children with food allergies tend to be inferior to that of their normal age friends.
In other words, compared to children of the same age, it appears that the weight or size of children with food allergies is lower than that of non-allergic children.
A study published in the ClinMed International Library's reviews in 2017 also concludes with similar results.
This study by researchers from the Mother Institute of the Child in Warsaw, Poland, focused on a group of children allergic to cow's milk proteins. In this study, the researchers examined children allergic to cow's milk fed a diet without cow's milk.
It should be noted that these children are at a higher risk of vitamin D deficiency than children under normal conditions. Indeed, the consumption of vitamin D is reduced because of a lack of milk consumption.
However, in this study, the vitamin D intake of these children can be increased by eating a diet without cow's milk accompanied by foods fortified with vitamin D.
Due to long-term cow's milk allergy
In addition to being experienced by the toddler, parents can also feel the consequences of cow's milk allergy. This is because most children who are allergic to a food or drink are generally more difficult to eat. This was revealed by a study in the journal Allergy and Clinical Immunology in 2013.
If this lasts a long time, this condition can certainly lead to a lack of daily nutritional intake. This lack of intake can also cause a lack of iron in the small. Even though iron is important for the formation of hemoglobin, which carries oxygen in the body and plays a role in the immune system.
If every day is to be faced with the condition of the Little One who eats reluctantly, this will certainly make Mother anxious and worried.
This is what makes the mother confused, even stressful, facing the condition of the little girl. Thus, the effects of milk allergy affect not only the small but also the mother as her parents.
What can parents do?
Knowing that the little one has an allergy to cow's milk could immediately prompt the mother to stop giving cow's milk, In fact, milk is not only available in one type. There are different types of milk that can be adjusted to the body condition of the baby.
In order for Little's daily nutritional needs to be met properly, Mother can provide a choice of milk with soy formula. Do not panic, the protein found in milk with this soy formula comes from soy.
In addition, the milk with a soy formula contains high-quality soy protein isolates. Because it does not contain cow's milk protein, the milk with a soy-based formula will obviously not cause an allergic reaction in children allergic to cow's milk.
You also do not need to hesitate. The milk with the soy formula has been transformed so that it can support the growth of the child and even be equivalent to cow's milk.
