Contents:
- Medical Video: Eczema & Allergies : Symptoms of Milk Allergies
- Can allergies occur when you grow up?
- What are the symptoms of milk allergy as an adult?
- Differentiate from milk intolerance
Medical Video: Eczema & Allergies : Symptoms of Milk Allergies
Some of you may be uncomfortable after drinking milk when you grow up. Feel the stomach becomes bloated or even diarrhea after drinking milk. In fact, when you were little you could drink milk and there were no problems with milk consumption. This might make you conclude that you have a milk allergy as an adult. Is it really like that?
Can allergies occur when you grow up?
Yes, allergies can appear at any time. Not only when you are a child, but it can also appear when you are an adult. At any age, you can show an allergic reaction for the first time, such as diarrhea after drinking cow's milk, itching, redness, swelling, vomiting, and much more. When you first experience these symptoms you may still be confused because you did not have problems with allergies before. But, allergies that only appear when they are adults can indeed occur.
Allergies can occur because your immune system considers something dangerous that enters your body. The immune system will then give rise to reactions to allergens (compounds that cause allergies). The reaction may not appear immediately when you are exposed to an allergen. Reactions can occur when you have been repeatedly exposed to allergens, so that new allergy symptoms appear when you are an adult. Allergy symptoms can appear in a mild to severe range and need special attention. Hereditary factors and also the environment can be related to allergies that you have.
What are the symptoms of milk allergy as an adult?
As previously explained, allergies can appear when you are an adult, including allergies to cow's milk. Usually, milk allergies when adults appear in their 30s or 40s.
In milk, it contains water, protein, minerals, fat, and carbohydrates (milk sugar). This protein in cow's milk can cause you to cause an allergic reaction because it's considered the body as a foreign substance. White blood cells will form antibodies or are called antihistamines to fight these foreign substances. This can then cause allergic symptoms, which can be shown through the skin, digestive system and respiratory system.
Symptoms of milk allergy as an adult can appear after you drink milk. This symptom can be in the form of a rash on the skin around the mouth and can spread to other parts of the body. Your skin can become red and itchy. In addition to skin rashes, other symptoms are problems with the digestive system, such as stomach cramps, flatulence, nausea, and vomiting. Of course, this makes you very uncomfortable.
You can also experience breathing problems when allergic to milk. The immune system that reacts to milk protein can cause inflammation of the sinuses. This can cause the production of excess mucus, so the nose becomes blocked and runny. Difficulty breathing, including wheezing, coughing, and asthma can also appear when you experience a milk allergy.
Differentiate from milk intolerance
If you have these symptoms after drinking milk, you should consult your doctor immediately. The doctor will do a further examination to see whether you really have milk allergy or not. You may experience symptoms of milk intolerance that are different from milk allergies, or can be allergic to other things. Milk allergy can indeed occur in adults, but this is very rare. Usually adults experience milk intolerance due to lack of enzymes that help digest milk.
If you really have milk allergies, you should avoid consuming milk, milk products, and foods that contain dairy products. Milk allergies can also show severe and potentially life-threatening reactions, but this is very rare. This is commonly called anaphylactic shock. Symptoms include decreased blood pressure, narrowing of the airways, weak pulse, skin rash, nausea, and vomiting.
