Milk Allergy in Teenagers

Juggling a teenager̵7;s dietary needs can be a challenge when she suffers from an allergy to milk. Simply avoiding milk and its products, such as cheese and ice cream, doesn̵7;t address the issue, either. Milk can be hidden in many forms in many foods. If your teen is mildly allergic, this may not be a life-threatening emergency. But for some kids, the smallest amount of milk can cause severe allergic reactions that can have grave consequences.

  1. The Allergy in Milk

    • If your teen is allergic to milk, his immune system is overreacting to one of the proteins in milk, either the whey -- the watery part of milk -- or the curd -- the chunky part of milk that you find in soured milk, explains KidsHealth. Curd contains 80 percent of the milk̵7;s proteins, including some called caseins; and whey contains the remaining 20 percent. When milk is ingested, the immune system releases histamine that causes the allergic reaction.

    Symptoms

    • Symptoms to a milk allergy can vary. If your teen is mildly allergic, the reaction may be limited to hives, bloating, stomach upset and diarrhea. However, if the allergy is more severe, symptoms may include difficulty breathing, swollen eyes, decreased blood pressure and a life-threatening reaction called anaphylactic shock. Any of these symptoms require immediate medical attention. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology states that more than 38 percent of children up to 18 years of age have severe food allergies. Food Allergy Research and Education recommends that all kids with a milk allergy carry an epinephrine auto-injector in case of reaction. To determine if your teen has an allergy to milk, see your doctor at the first sign of symptoms, no matter how mild.

    Milk Allergy vs. Lactose Intolerance

    • It̵7;s easy to confuse a milk allergy with lactose intolerance, as the symptoms are similar. However, a milk allergy is caused by the immune system while lactose intolerance is caused by the digestive system̵7;s inability to digest milk sugars. To determine which one your teen may be suffering from, she should see an allergy specialist.

    Alternatives

    • Milk is in many foods that you may be unaware of, such as chocolate, processed meats, brown sugar flavoring, tortilla chips, ranch-style potato chips, poultry and tuna. Therefore, you must get in the habit of reading the label on all foods before your child consumes them. Children̵7;s Hospital Colorado recommends some alternative foods that you can use to supplement your baking and cooking. These include rice or soy milk, fruit juices, vegetable oils, vegan cheeses and rice-based puddings, sherbets and ice pops.

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