Mild to Severe Dairy Allergy Symptoms

People with dairy allergies, also known as cow's milk allergies, experience symptoms because their immune system overreacts to proteins found in milk and dairy products. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and include many body systems.

A dairy allergy is sometimes confused with lactose intolerance because the two share some of the same symptoms. However, unlike a dairy allergy, lactose intolerance does not involve the immune system and does not cause life-threatening symptoms.

This article discusses the different types of dairy allergy symptoms and ways to treat them.

Emergency Dairy Allergy Symptoms

Allergies to foods, including milk, are among the most common causes of a potentially life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis. This reaction involves the respiratory and/or cardiovascular system and other body parts, most often the skin.

Severe dairy allergy symptoms include:

• Swelling of the airways
• Difficulty breathing
• Hoarse voice
• A sudden drop in blood pressure, leading to dizziness or fainting
• Difficulty talking or swallowing

Epinephrine is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis, which works immediately to reverse nearly all symptoms. The method of administering epinephrine is intramuscular injection with an autoinjector (EpiPen).

Dairy Allergy Skin Symptoms

Reactions to dairy and other food allergies are commonly seen on the skin.

Skin symptoms include:

• Itching
• Rashes or swelling of the skin (angioedema)
• Hives (urticaria)

Antihistamines, which are available as gels, liquids, or tablets, can treat mild to moderate skin symptoms like itching or a few hives. They reduce or block symptom-causing histamines released when your body encounters an allergen.

Dairy Allergy Digestive Symptoms

Digestive symptoms may include:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Upset stomach
• Abdominal pain
• Bloody stools, especially in infants

People with lactose intolerance lack the enzyme lactase, which breaks down lactose, a sugar in milk and dairy products. As a result, people who are lactose intolerant experience nausea, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, or bloating when they eat lactose-containing foods.

Some people with lactose intolerance can tolerate small amounts of lactose. Lactase tablets or drops can give your body the lactase it needs to break down lactose, which helps reduce the risk of digestive symptoms.

Consider keeping a diary of what you eat and how your body reacts to the foods you consume. Also, consider trying an elimination diet to determine if you have a food allergy or intolerance.

Dairy Allergy Respiratory Symptoms

Respiratory symptoms can range from mild to severe. They usually don't occur on their own and are accompanied by digestive and/or skin symptoms.

Mild symptoms may include:

• Itchy or runny nose
• Sneezing
• Nasal congestion
• Mild cough
• Itching of the throat

Respiratory symptoms, including shortness of breath, wheezing, or repetitive cough, may signify a severe reaction that can quickly progress to anaphylaxis and should be treated with epinephrine.

Your healthcare provider may prescribe antihistamines and oral steroid medications if you have mild respiratory symptoms.

Why Do I Suddenly Have Dairy Allergy Symptoms?

Dairy allergy symptoms generally start to appear within the first year of life. Studies show that 80% of children outgrow their dairy allergy by age 16. A sudden dairy allergy in adults is rare, and researchers aren't sure exactly why it may happen.

However, many adults develop lactose intolerance as they age. Studies suggest that around 50% of adults in the United States have lactase deficiency due to a decrease in the amount of lactase in the small intestine as we age.

Its sudden onset can also be triggered by surgery that affects your small intestine, illness, or infection. This includes conditions like Crohn's disease and celiac disease, which damage the small intestine, and illnesses that cause diarrhea.

Non-Dairy Alternatives for Avoiding Allergy Symptoms

There are many dairy-free foods and beverages that can replace milk and dairy products. These include:

• Milk substitutes such as soy milk, rice milk, oat milk, almond milk, cashew milk, hemp milk, and flaxseed milk
• Dairy-free cheeses, typically made with nuts, soy, vegetable oil, and nutritional yeast
• Plant-based butter alternatives, often made with vegetable oils or coconut
• Dairy-free yogurt, such as almond milk yogurt, coconut milk yogurt, and soy milk yogurt
• Ice cream alternatives like ice cream made from non-dairy milk and fruit-based sorbets

Always check your food labels for added ingredients. When possible, choose non-dairy alternatives that are fortified with calcium and vitamin D to make them more similar to cow's milk.

Grocery Shopping and Dining Out With Dairy Allergy

When grocery shopping, pay close attention to your food labels. As a significant allergen, most labels on packaged food disclose, in simple terms, if they are made with dairy or milk ingredients.

Avoid foods that contain the following ingredients:

• Artificial butter flavor, butter, or butter fat
• Buttermilk
• Casein and caseinates
• Cheese, cottage cheese
• Cream, custard, pudding
• Ghee
• Half-and-half
• Hydrolysates (casein, milk protein, protein, whey, and whey protein)
• Lactalbumin, lactalbumin phosphate
• Lactoglobulin
• Lactose
• Milk in all forms
• Nisin
• Nougat
• Rennet casein
• Sour cream
• Whey
• Yogurt

Dairy proteins may be hidden in the following foods:

• Salad dressings
• Chocolate
• Crackers
• Processed lunch meats
• Baked goods

When eating out, inform your server that you have a dairy allergy. Ask how food allergies are handled and inquire into the restaurant's dairy-free menu choices.

Carrying a "chef card" that includes the foods and ingredients you must avoid is another way to communicate your dairy allergy with the kitchen staff.

Summary

Dairy allergies occur when the immune system overreacts to proteins in milk and dairy products. Symptoms range from mild to severe and can involve the skin, digestive, and respiratory systems.

Although it's rare to develop a dairy allergy later in life, suddenly becoming lactose intolerant is relatively common. Lactose intolerance causes similar digestive symptoms but does not cause life-threatening reactions.

If you are experiencing symptoms after consuming dairy, talk to your healthcare provider. They can perform testing to confirm whether an allergy or intolerance is present and provide appropriate treatment recommendations.