Cow’s milk allergy, also known as cow’s milk protein allergy, is often confused with lactose intolerance. That’s why it is good to know what a cow’s milk protein allergy is, which foods you can best avoid if you have a cow’s milk allergy and what else you can do. It is also handy to know the age group in which this allergy mainly occurs. Does it occur mainly in adults or children? And what are the symptoms of a cow’s milk allergy? You can read all the answers to Frequently asked questions about this over-sensitivity at Kerutabs.
What is a cow’s milk allergy?
Cow’s milk allergy or cow’s milk protein allergy means that your body is unable to tolerate the protein in cow’s milk. An allergic reaction to the protein occurs when you eat or drink products containing cow’s milk.
Cow’s milk protein allergy mainly occurs in babies. This is because the immune system of a new baby is not yet fully developed. How long the cow’s milk allergy persists can differ from person to person. One child can tolerate cow’s milk after a few months, but in general this dairy allergy will disappear when a child reaches the age of fifteen. A cow’s milk allergy is less prevalent in adults, with less than 1% of adults being allergic to cow’s milk.
The difference between a cow milk allergy, lactose intolerance and a dairy allergy
Cow’s milk allergy results in an oversensitivity to the protein in cow’s milk. People also refer to this as a dairy allergy. The dairy allergy symptoms are, therefore, similar to the symptoms that appear in cow’s milk protein allergy. In people with lactose intolerance (popularly sometimes incorrectly referred to as a lactose allergy) there is a reaction to the milk sugar found in milk products. If you are allergic to cow’s milk, then this is not the same as lactose intolerance. If your body has an allergic reaction to cow’s milk, you are over-sensitive to cow’s milk protein. If you are lactose intolerant, you are over-sensitive to the milk sugar.
If you are lactose intolerant, Kerutabs can help you. These tablets contain lactase and can help your body to digest lactose. If you have a cow’s milk allergy, we do not recommend that you take Kerutabs. If you have any questions about our lactase tablets, please visit our Frequently asked questions page or contact us.