Treatment options for cow’s milk allergy is the 3rd in this 5-part blog series on non-IgE Cow’s Milk Allergy in Infancy and is best read following confirming a diagnosis of cow’s milk allergy.
Treatment options for cow’s milk allergy in infancy depend on the severity of symptoms and whether breast, formula or combination feeding is the preferred choice for parents. An allergy focused clinical history taken by a GP or Paediatric Dietitian, will have the key information on which the best treatment options for cow’s milk allergy can be considered for both mum and baby.
Considerations
- Breast feeding the cow’s milk allergic infant
- Supplementary calcium, iodine and Vitamin D for mum
- Advantages of continuing breast feeding for mum and baby
- Alternative formulas for the cow’s milk allergic infant
- First line prescription formulas
- Symptoms requiring a more specialised formula
Breast feeding the cow’s milk allergic infant
Breast feeding can safely continue in the knowledge that it is protective for the allergic infant, with many advantages. But it’s not without it’s challenges! Strict avoidance of all cow’s milk and it products, including the small amounts hidden in foods, will resolve the symptoms. Mum needs to follow a well-balanced but strictly cow’s milk free diet at a time when her needs for nutrition are especially high. The widely available range of milks such as soya, oat, rice and nut milks are low in nutritional value and make a poor contribution to mums’ nutritional needs. Mum needs to be committed and knowledgeable about her own needs. For mums whose weight is low or who struggle to eat enough, or for mums who are having difficulty coping should seek further advice if they wish to continue breast feeding. For babies with severe atopic eczema and poor weight gain, a formula milk should be considered.
Nutrition for mum and baby
Cow’s milk (and it’s products) are the principal source of calcium and iodine in UK diets, with needs increased during pregnancy and lactation by around 50-66%. Calcium is of central importance for women’s bone health and iodine for foetal and infant brain development and function. Vitamin D is limited in foods but essential to ensure calcium is absorbed into bone and together with calcium and iodine should be taken in supplement form.
| Breastfeeding Pros for baby | Pros for mum |
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Alternative formulas for the cow’s milk allergic infant
Soya or goats milk formula are not recommended as treatment options for cow’s milk allergy in infants: 50 – 66% of infants will have immune reactions similar to those in cow’s milk allergy. Broadly, two types of formula are available as treatment options for cow’s milk allergy in infancy – peptide (EHF) or amino acid (AA). The first treatment option is an extensively hydrolysed formula (EHF), in which the proteins are hydrolysed, “digested” or broken down into short chains called peptides. The immune system does not recognise these peptides as cow’s milk protein in 90-95% of infants with non-IgE CMA, and the EHF is well tolerated. There are a variety of EHF types and brands available on prescription, subtely suited to different needs, and is one area of a Paediatric Dietitian’s expertise. Current EHF formulas are available with or without lactose (the milk sugar); casein (curds) or whey based protein; first or second (follow-on) milks with added iron and calcium. Lactose has the advantage of making the formula taste better, but may not be well tolerated in infants with delayed diagnosis. Whey based formulas tend to empty from a baby’s tummy more quickly and may help improve symptoms of reflux. Second or follow-on milks are only suited for babies over 6 months.
Symptoms requiring a more specialised formula
For infants who develop symptoms of cow’s milk allergy during exclusive breast feeding, have severe symptoms or who are symptomatic following a 2-4 week trial on an EHF, an amino acid formula (AA) is indicated. Proteins in this type of formula are further broken down from peptide chains into individual units called amino acids and are well tolerated by almost all infants. As an expensive option (£30 per tin) careful consideration is given to its prescription.
