“ 2% Of babies are allergic to milk and 15% of adults is intolerant to lactose, pathologies that is important not to confuse â€.
its diagnosis, treatment and evolution are very different in both cases.
Vitoria-Gasteiz, February 2012.- “ confuse the allergy to milk with lactose intolerance is very common among people who suffer from one or another ailment, however, diagnosis, treatment and the evolution of each one of them are very different â€. Thus has pointed out it the Medical Director and the ClÃnica USP La Esperanza, Juan DÃez Melgosa, allergist who maintains that to have a successful diagnosis it is necessary that patients come to your doctor to ensure that they derive the appropriate specialist.
Proteins containing cow’s milk are those that produce allergy to this food that occurs, in the majority of cases, among infants (2%) in the first few days after starting to be fed with bottles of milk adapted. Adapted milk, home or continuation formulas are manufactured from modified cow’s milk to make it suitable for the feeding of infants. This food allergy symptoms are rash in areas of skin in contact with milk, urticaria, digestive, respiratory symptoms or even serious anaphylactic reactions.
The diagnosis of allergy to cow’s milk proteins is done with skin tests and blood tests and when confirming allergy, the pediatrician or allergist recommends special for allergic children milk formulas. Since that time, the specialist makes periodic reviews to assess the evolution of the allergy to milk in each child, establishing when and how it can reintroduce this food in their diet, given that about 90% of the children allergic to milk will tolerate its consumption before age 6-7either spontaneously or through induction of tolerance made by an allergist.
“ Those patients that are still affected by the allergy to milk should continue to avoid the consumption of cow’s milk (as well as the milk of sheep, goat and other mammals, as they are very similar to effects of allergy), all its derivatives (such as yogurt, cheese, etc.), products cooked with milk or foods that in its composition have proteins in milk (sauces or prepared food)(, biscuits, chocolate, candy, sausages, pâtés …) â€, argues Dr. DÃez Melgosa.
To avoid a lack of calcium in the body, the allergic person can take calcium supplements, foods rich in calcium (juices, prepared soy, etc.) and other foods that are naturally rich in calcium such as legumes, green leafy vegetables, some fish, etc.
For its part, intolerance to lactose (the sugar that is present in any type of milk), usually appears with the passage of the years due to loss in varying degrees of lactase enzyme, responsible for that digest lactose.
“ 15% Of the adult Spanish are intolerant to lactose, a figure which increases to 90% for Asians and Africans, since they usually consume less milk â€, confirms the Medical Director of USP La Esperanza.
The symptoms of this intolerance is always digestive, such as bloating, flatulence, abdominal pain or diarrhea, and should be diagnosed and treated by the digestive Maven. And unlike the allergic to milk, persons suffering from lactose intolerance Yes can eat some dairy products because their concentration in lactose is lower, such as yogurts, as well food specifically created low in lactose (milk, yogurt, cheese, etc.).
On the USP hospital group
Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Madrid, USP hospital is the first hospital private group in the Spanish market. Currently, USP hospital boasts a network of 12 hospitals and 23 health centres which assist 4,000 doctors annually serving more than two million patients. In addition, at the beginning of 2012 is expected between commissioning a new Hospital USP La Bay in El Campo de Gibraltar.
