Background: diagnosing cow's milk protein allergy in children

Cow's milk protein allergy (ABMK) is one of the most common types of food allergy found among children. It manifests itself with a variety of complaints, such as rash, swelling, abdominal pain, vomiting or diarrhea. Diagnosis of this allergy is important to eliminate the descent of symptoms as soon as possible and provide the child with appropriate dietary therapy. In this article, I will discuss methods for diagnosing ABMK in children and share steps that can help identify this allergy.

1. Analyze symptoms and medical history

The first step in diagnosing ABMK in a child is to carefully analyze the symptoms and gather information about the patient's medical history. It is important for parents to describe in detail the child's symptoms after consuming cow's milk protein, such as rash, itchy skin, difficulty breathing, abdominal pain, vomiting or diarrhea. In addition, the doctor should ask about a family history of allergies and previous food reactions in the child.

While analyzing the symptoms and medical history, the doctor may also recommend keeping a food diary, in which parents will note the products consumed by the child and the symptoms that follow them. This diary can be useful in identifying potential correlations between the foods consumed and allergic symptoms.

2. Skin testing

Skin tests are one of the most common and effective ways to diagnose allergies, including ABMK. They involve pricking the skin with special extracts containing cow's milk proteins. If the child is allergic to these proteins, there will be a characteristic reaction on the skin in the form of redness, swelling or itching. The skin test is non-invasive and is usually performed on the forearm.

In cases of doubt, the doctor may recommend patch tests. These involve applying a patch soaked in protein extract to the child's skin and observing the skin reaction after a certain period of time. If the skin is allergic to cow's milk protein, there will be a characteristic reaction in the form of redness, itching or swelling.

3. Laboratory tests

In cases where skin tests are inconclusive or do not give clear results, the doctor may order laboratory tests to confirm the diagnosis of ABMK. The most common laboratory test is the determination of IgE antibodies directed against cow's milk protein in blood serum. In cases of allergy, the level of these antibodies may be elevated.

However, it is worth remembering that laboratory test results may not be conclusive and should be interpreted in conjunction with an analysis of the child's symptoms and medical history.

4. Provocative tests

Provocative tests are the final step in diagnosing ABMK in children and should only be performed under the close supervision of a specialist. They involve giving the child a small amount of cow's milk protein under medical supervision and observing any allergic reactions.

Provocative tests are necessary when the diagnosis of ABMK is in doubt or when there is a need to accurately determine the child's reaction to cow's milk protein. During these tests, the doctor can monitor various parameters, such as heart rate, blood pressure and blood oxygen levels, in order to react appropriately if allergic reactions occur.

Summary

Diagnosing cow's milk protein allergy in children can be time-consuming and require many different tests. Analysis of symptoms and medical history, skin tests, laboratory tests and provocation tests are useful in the process of diagnosing this allergy. It is important that the entire diagnostic process is carried out under the supervision of an experienced specialist, and that the relevant test results are interpreted in the context of the patient's overall clinical background.

Keep in mind that if a child is suspected of having a cow's milk protein allergy, do not experiment with nutrition on your own or conduct allergy tests at home. Only a doctor can make a confident diagnosis and recommend appropriate therapy.