Cow's milk is the most common cause of food allergies and food intolerance. A cow's milk intolerance is usually a reaction to the sugar, lactose, while an allergy is caused by the proteins in the milk.

Allergy to cow's milk is a well-studied form of food allergy as cow's milk contains many proteins that are antigenic (which means they excite immune responses). Allergic response includes both immediate and delayed patterns. The immediate form of this allergy tends to be very obvious and shows up on skin tests. Delayed patterns of milk allergy are not as obvious and do not produce positive skin tests. The delayed form of a milk allergy tends to cause chronic diseases that are rarely diagnosed.

People of all ages with gastrointestinal tract disease may have difficulty digesting these proteins and may absorb them as antigens. Milk problems may be attributed to lactose intolerance and the milk-sugar enzyme, lactase, may be prescribed, but often the diagnosis of "lactose intolerance" is incomplete or wrong and symptoms persist. Milk allergy is also common in adults, but is seldom diagnosed.

Infant milk allergy is thought to be a specific and limited condition, which children outgrow. Many experts believe that this idea can be misleading; however, as many children continue to experience chronic symptoms from milk, even though the original symptoms have disappeared. A changing pattern of illness can confuse parents and physicians.

Similar components in cow's milk are also often found in the milk of other ruminants, including goats and sheep. Any patient with a dairy allergy who is considering using other animal milk as a substitute for cow's milk should talk to their allergist before proceeding.

Dairy allergies may appear with a wide variety of symptoms, including hives, eczema, chronic congestion, and diarrhea. Lactose intolerance, like much other dietary intolerance, causes gastrointestinal symptoms, such as bloating, cramping, and diarrhea. If you suspect you or your child has a food allergy, contact your physician or find an allergist near you.

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