Milk Allergy
Cow's milk is the main cause of food allergy in children. Patients allergic to food frequently experience accidental exposure. There are few studies analyzing this problem, most of them concerning peanut allergy.
Martinez et al set out to calculate the frequency of accidental exposure reactions in children allergic to cow's milk during a 12-month period.
Eighty-eight children allergic to cow's milk (44 boys; median age, 32.5 months) were included in the study. A questionnaire about accidental exposure was used and reactions were classified as mild, moderate, and severe.
They found that thirty-five (40%) children had 53 reactions in the previous year (53% mild, 32% moderate, and 15% severe). Most reactions took place at home (47%).
They concluded that reactions to accidental exposure are frequent in children with cow's milk allergy and that the risk factors for such reactions include very high levels of specific IgE to cow's milk and casein and asthma.
Accidental allergic reactions in children allergic to cow's milk proteins.
Boyano-Martínez T, García-Ara C, Pedrosa M, Díaz-Pena JM, Quirce S. J Allergy
Clin Immunol. 2009 Apr;123(4):883-8.