Abstract:

Cow milk allergy (CMA) is the most common food allergy in infants and young children, its frequency is as 1.8-7.5% in different studies and 80% of these patients will develop tolerance by the age of 6 years. Cows milk allergy is defined as an adverse reaction caused by an abnormal immunological response to CM proteins (β-lactoglobulin, casein, etc.). In clinical, 32-60% of children with CMA presents with gastrointestinal symptoms, 5-90% with skin symptoms and anaphylaxis in 0.8 to 9% of cases. It's important that current diagnosis of CMA, depends on evaulating clinical findings, skin tests (skin prick test and atopy patch test), milk specific-IgE assays which only indicate sensitisation and oral food challenge test as a gold standard. The current treatment option for CMA is still elimination diet of food including CM proteins until developing tolerance. For the reason, due to the risk of accidental ingestion and clinical reactions such as anaphylaxis, patients and families had to be informed about the foods including cow’s milk proteins and alternative food sources; risk analysis and emergency plan must be made individually. However, oral immunotherapy is one of the treatment options for children from around 4 - 5 years of age with persistent IgE-mediated CMA it must be administered only by experienced centers currently. Patients with CMA should be evaluated for tolerance development regularly, during the elimination diet.

Keywords: