Milk allergy symptoms happen because your immune system mistakes milk proteins for a threat. Contact with something containing milk triggers your body to try to defend you. Common milk allergy symptoms can include hives, swelling, sickness and wheezing. But it depends on whether you have Type I or Type IV hypersensitivity.
The immediate allergic reaction you may be most familiar with is Type I milk allergy. It involves Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies. Type IV calls on another part of the immune system and tends to happen more slowly.
Cow’s milk is one of the most common food allergies in babies and young children. Other animals’ milk can cause allergic reactions too. Read on if you think you or your child may be experiencing milk allergy symptoms. We’ll describe what to look out for and how to deal with allergy to milk, whichever type it is.